At the risk of driving us crazy... now minister tells us we should still consider buying diesel

THE Business Secretary was last night accused of sowing confusion after claiming diesels ‘still have a place’ on Britain’s roads.

Despite the Government’s intention to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars from 2040, Greg Clark urged drivers to trade in their old diesels for a new, cleaner one.

Speaking at a car summit he said: ‘I think it’s important to say that new-generation diesel engines can make a big contribution to reducing our emissions.

‘I would expect the contribution of the higher standards of efficiency and emission performance of diesel engines to continue to drive improvements in air quality and our greenhouse gas performance.

‘It would be the wrong decision for people to think that holding on to an existing diesel vehicle rather than upgrading to a much more environmentally friendly new one is a good step for the planet.’

He added: ‘There’s a place for diesel vehicles and there will be for some time to come. If you’re driving a diesel-powered car long distances then that’s a very different impact than in the city.

‘So we need to make sure people make the right choices for the environment and for their own use.’

Motoring campaigner Howard Cox said: ‘It’s good news that the Business Secretary realises that diesel cars are not the root of all evil. But drivers will be wondering what on earth to do.

‘First they are advised to move away from diesel, now they are advised to trade in their old diesel car for a new one. This will just sow further confusion.’

Mr Clark’s comments, at the Financial Times’ Future of the Car summit, appear at odds with those made by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling in February last year.

Mr Grayling said drivers should think twice before driving a diesel, particularly if they mainly drive it in a town or city.

Asked whether motorists should hesitate before buying a diesel, Mr Grayling also stressed that diesels would not disappear but said: ‘People should have a long, hard think about what they need, about where they’re going to be driving, and should make best endeavours to buy the least polluting vehicle they can.’

Sales of new diesel cars slumped by 17 per cent last year in the UK and have fallen heavily across Europe as drivers have been spooked by a string of health warnings.

Diesel cars generate higher quantities of toxic nitrogen oxide fumes than petrol cars. These fumes have been linked to more than 40,000 premature deaths in the UK a year.

The Government has urged councils to target diesel drivers as they try to reduce air pollution. Petrol also generates less of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

This week Volvo announced it would not launch another diesel model and Rolls-Royce said it would go all-electric by 2040.