Diesel drivers urge Theresa May to approve the £2billion scrappage scheme offering Brits £1,000 to switch to ‘green’ cars
THERESA May urged to personally approve a £2billion scrappage scheme offering Brits £1,000 so they can switch to “greener” motors.
Fuel campaigners, motoring chiefs and MPs are outraged by plans for a “Toxin Tax”.
They have written to the Prime Minister to lay out the details of a “self-financing” plan they insist would barely cost the Treasury a penny.
Under the scheme, an estimated two million motorists with diesels bought over a decade ago would be offered at least £1,000.
The money would come from higher vehicle excise duty from the worst “gas guzzlers” — such as state-of-the-art BMW and Mercedes.
Revenue from the London Mayor’s toxicity “T-Charge” and new city council parking fees on diesel cars would also be used to pay for the fund.
Charlie Elphicke, Tory MP and head of a cross-parliamentary group on fuel, told The Sun: “It would be deeply unfair to punish millions of diesel drivers with higher taxes. We must tackle the pollution problem.
“But the truth is that many families and small businesses can’t afford to pay more to drive — or to buy a new car.”
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The “Fair Deal For Diesel” is backed by campaign group FairFuelUK, the Road Haulage Association and the RAC.
The group claims diesel only accounts for 11 per cent of nitrogen oxide emissions and the Government should act against utility firms using diesel generators, ageing buses and trains.
FairFuelUK co-founder Howard Cox said government plans for a £20 Toxin Tax in up to 35 towns and cities would slash diesel car values by as much as 40 per cent.
He added: “The anger generated by out-of-touch politicians and emotively hyped data is palpable.”
Greenpeace said the plan was a step in the right direction.
Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom is legally bound to produce an air quality plan by April 24.