Four in five motorists say they have ‘no choice’ but to keep diesel cars despite new green taxes

FOUR in five motorists say new green taxes will not make them ditch their diesel cars.

A survey of 16,000 motorists found the vast majority of drivers had “no choice” but to drive the same mileage.

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Lorry drivers would be the hardest hit by the cash grabs, with nine in ten saying they will be forced to stomach the higher costs.

It sends a warning to the government that any tax raid on diesel drivers will fail to persuade them to switch to greener cars - with just four per cent saying the measures would make them ditch diesel.

The farce deepened after the government’s former chief scientist David King admitted it was wrong to cut fuel duty on diesel vehicles 16 years ago. The move triggered a boom in diesel car sales but now they face being punished.

Ministers are set to give the green light for town halls to slap crippling daily charges on diesel vehicles driving through 35 towns and cities across England.

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The Sun revealed that 15 major authorities are considering charging diesel drivers more than petrol cars for parking.

Cities looking at the plans include Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester.

Hard-pressed motorists face a third assault later this year as the chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to hike Vehicle Excise Duty on diesel vehicles.

But a survey by FairFuelUK found a 3p rise in diesel tax would have no effect on 79 per cent of diesel drivers. Just 15 per cent say it would make them drive less. Eighty five per cent of diesel van drivers say
they would have no choice but drive the same mileage.

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Tory MP Charlie Elphicke said: “Most drivers of diesel cars don’t have a choice. And they can’t afford to change their cars. It’s no surprise millions of Sun readers will feel hard done by.

“That’s why they need to be supported - not fleeced for more taxes.”

He added: “It’s a real worry that councils will now pile in and use pollution as a smokescreen to raise more taxes to plug holes in their budgets.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan unveiled  a new cash grab on diesel vehicles that will see some pay as much as £24 a day to drive in London from 2019.