Diesel drivers face tax hike after rise in number of polluting cars on Britain’s roads

DIESEL drivers may face a tax hike to tackle deadly emissions after a Cabinet minister suggested it was a “mistake” to have slashed duty on the fuel.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said Gordon Brown’s cut to diesel duty had led to a “dramatic rise” in the number of diesel cars – and a surge of toxic nitrogen oxide pollution across the country.

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Although diesel engines produce less carbon – blamed on global warming – they also spew out four times as much toxic NOx.

Mr McLoughlin told the Evening Standard: “It’s something we have got to address.

“We have got to look at that.

“It is something the Chancellor will need to look at in due course.”

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Mr Brown’s move back in 2001 led to a rush to buy diesel cars which saw their numbers soar from 3.45m cars or 13 per cent of the total on the road to 8.2m (28 per cent).

But the minister added: “In fairness, they thought they were doing the right thing.

“The consequence of what they did was to bring about a reduction in carbon.”

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The Government was also working with makers to reduce NOx emissions and ploughing £600million into electric cars and charging points.

It was revealed yesterday the DVLA has seen a dramatic slump of more than £200million in tax takings in the first six months of the paper car tax disc being scrapped.

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