Don’t punish diesel drivers, say Tory MPs

MINISTERS face a growing rebellion from Tory MPs over moves to ‘punish’ diesel drivers, it emerged last night.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove will this week publish a plan to deal with air pollution in towns and cities across Britain.

An early version of the proposals, published in the run-up to the election, suggested diesel drivers would be hit with ‘clean air zone’ pollution charges in some areas.

But the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Fuel said the policy must not involve ‘punitive’ taxes.

The group’s chairman, Julian Knight, Tory MP for Solihull, said: ‘Drivers were told for years that diesel was the environmentally conscious choice. As an MP for a car-making town I’m shocked that some manufacturers misled customers and regulators on emissions – but the Government’s response must not punish motorists who acted in good faith and on the advice of Tony Blair’s ministers.’

He pointed to polling showing the public want ‘practical solutions, not punitive taxes’.

Former minister Rob Halfon, the group’s vice chairman, said: ‘Why should hard-pressed motorists bear the burden for mistakes made by Gordon Brown and his government? Instead diesel car owners should be given tax breaks to replace their vehicles.

‘Too often motorists are the easy target for tax raising enthusiasts. Enough is enough.’

Ministers have also discussed a diesel scrappage scheme to pay drivers to trade in old polluting vehicles, but it would come at a high cost to the Treasury.