Brazen car giant wants you to pay more fuel tax

VAUXHALL has been accused of ‘breathtaking cheek’ after suggesting motorists in Britain should pay an extra tax at the pumps to combat air pollution.

In written evidence to a Parliamentary inquiry into air quality, it suggested the levy would be called an ‘Air Quality Subsidy’ and would be a ‘good solution to tackle the immediate problem head on’.

The firm claimed this would focus on the ‘short-term air quality challenge, which is older vehicles’ and the price of new cars would not be affected. Motorists already pay 78p in tax on a litre of diesel costing 123p. Vauxhall said an extra levy on tax ‘equally spreads the cost over all drivers’, adding that people would be taxed on how much they drive – supporting the ‘polluter pays’ principle.

But Vauxhall’s submission has incensed motoring and environmental campaigners, who accused it of ‘passing the buck’ for its own mistakes.

Julian Knight, Tory MP for Solihull said: ‘For a car manufacturer to suggest a new tax on fuel is staggering – a breathtaking cheek. They sold these cars in the first place.’ Fearing a tax rise on high emission diesels in next week’s Budget, a Vauxhall spokesman said this was not the way to raise money for the air quality plan, adding that it was merely suggesting alternatives.

Living on a tree-lined street could protect people in polluted areas from asthma, a study found. Their leaves capture particles from car exhausts and polluting gases.

‘Breathtaking cheek’