Tax freeze urged on dirty diesel cars

Motoring campaigners have urged the government to freeze fuel duty and avoid punishing the drivers of diesel vehicles in Wednesday’s Budget.

There has been growing speculation that Chancellor Philip Hammond will increase taxes on new diesel cars following calls by environmentalists to take action to improve air quality.

The All-party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fair Fuel for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers and pressure group Fairfueluk have written to Prime Minister Theresa May and Mr Hammond calling on them to avoid such action. The letter claims introducing a new purchase registration tax onto new diesels would be “a massive disincentive” for motorists to switch to cleaner models. The letter concludes: “There’s a much wider band of polluters than just passenger cars.”