Tories warn May against tax on diesel

MPS warn PM she could face rebellion by imposing environmental taxes on ‘white-van Conservatives’

Theresa May has been warned that Tory MPS could rebel if the Government “punishes” diesel drivers in its Air Quality Plan. Several MPS fear a backlash from “white-van Conservatives” if the plan, to be published by the end of the month, includes a tax on diesel vehicles driving into cities.

THERESA MAY has been warned that she will face a potential Tory rebellion if the Government “punishes” drivers of diesel vehicles when it publishes plans to improve air quality later this month.

Any attempt to make drivers “bear the burden” of the cost of bringing down pollution would trigger a backlash from MPS who fear “white-van Conservatives” would turn their backs on the party, having been encouraged to buy diesels by the last Labour government.

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, has until the end of July to publish the Government’s long-awaited Air Quality Plan, which could include plans for a so-called “toxin tax” on diesel vehicles driving into cities.

The Government was ordered to do so by the High Court after missing a series of EU targets on air quality.

A draft plan put the onus on local authorities to “reduce emissions as quickly as possible, while avoiding undue impact on the motorist”.

Client Earth, the environmental group that successfully took the Government to court over its past failures to tackle air quality, said the draft proposals were “weak” and raised the possibility of further legal action if it is not satisfied with the final plan.

MPS warned Mr Gove he should not be tempted to hit drivers in the pocket to solve a problem not of their making. The Conservative MP Julian Knight, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for fair fuel, said: “Drivers were told for years that diesel was the environmentally conscious choice. The Government’s response must not punish motorists who acted in good faith.”

Earlier this year, Philip Hammond was forced to scrap plans to increase national insurance contributions for self-employed people after MPS pointed out it would hit traditional Tory voters who work for themselves.

Robert Halfon, another Tory MP on the group, suggested the Government could be forced into another aboutturn if it got its environment policy wrong. He said: “The last thing we want to do is hit white-van Conservatives and people who were told to buy those cars by telling them they have to pay extra taxes.

“I strongly oppose punishing those drivers who bought diesel cars through no fault of their own because they were advised to by ministers at the time. We need to use tax breaks and other incentives to get cleaner cars. What you don’t do is hammer motorists, many of whom are on low incomes.”

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the Air Quality Plan would not be subject to a vote in Parliament, meaning it is likely to be made law through so-called secondary legislation, in which existing laws can be amended without the need for a vote.

The draft document published in May contained details of how 27 new clean air zones in cities would have the biggest, and quickest impact on air quality. But it also said the local authorities would be required to exhaust all other options, such as removing speed humps and replacing diesel buses, before considering charging diesel vehicles to enter the zones.

Many experts have said punitive fees for diesel cars are the only effective option but drivers’ champions believe the Government should offer a scrappage scheme to persuade motorists to trade in the oldest, most polluting diesels.

MPS said a survey published today by Fairfueluk showed that only 0.07 per cent of drivers thought tax hikes were the best option to reduce emissions, and almost nine in 10 were concerned that Defra would not be fair to drivers in its Air Quality Plan.

Mary Glindon, a Labour MP and member of the all-party group, said: “The Government has dragged its heels in publishing the Air Quality Plan. I hope it’s worth the wait and the Government commits to proven ways to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency instead of more taxation.”