Theresa May orders ministers not to punish millions of diesel drivers with ‘Toxin Tax’ – in a first big victory for the Sun
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has vowed to charge diesel motorists as much as £24 to drive into central London from 2019
THERESA May has ordered ministers not to punish millions of diesel drivers over ‘toxic’ pollution – in a first big victory for the Sun.
Speaking yesterday the Prime Minister said the concerns of hard-working Brits who bought diesel motors in good faith a decade ago had to be “taken into account”.
Campaigners said the comments would pile pressure on the Treasury to launch a nationwide scrappage scheme.
It came as London Mayor Sadiq Khan vowed to charge diesel motorists as much as £24 to drive into central London from 2019.
Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom is said to be weighing up a £20 ‘Toxin Tax’ on diesel drivers in as many as 35 towns and cities.
The staggering proposals are due to be unveiled later this month.
But speaking on her Middle East visit, the PM said: “We are producing an air quality plan as we have been required to do by the courts.
“We will take some final decisions but I’m very conscious of the fact that past Governments have encouraged people to buy diesel cars.
“And we need to take that into account when we are looking at what we do in the future.”
Motoring groups last night said they were “thrilled” by the PM’s intervention.
FairFuelUK co-founder Howard Cox said: “I’m delighted the Prime Minister is receptive to the concerns of millions of hard-working diesel drivers who are being unjustly demonised as the ‘Axle of Evil’ by the Department for Environment, the Department for Transport and the Treasury – not to mention the London Mayor.
“Our supporters hope she will make them see sense.”
The High Court ruled in November that the Government wasn’t doing enough to tackle hefty pollution and improve air quality.
Campaigners have for months argued for the Government to set up a scrappage scheme to help Brits now facing a tax bombshell.
There are as many as two million ten year-old diesel motors on Britain’s roads. Chancellor Philip Hammond has been urged to offer motorists £2,000 to help them afford a new, cleaner car.
Sources claim he has instead been studying plans to give councils more funding to put up number plate recognition cameras so town halls can
police clean air zones in cities.