Boris wants tax on diesel cars to boost air quality

Mayor of London Boris Johnson plans to charge ‘dirty diesels’ a tenner for coming into the capital to boost air quality. The £10 tax is part of the Mayor’s plan […]

Mayor of London Boris Johnson plans to charge ‘dirty diesels’ a tenner for coming into the capital to boost air quality.

The £10 tax is part of the Mayor’s plan to create the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), encouraging all vehicles in central London to be ultra low or zero emission from 2020.

Under the ULEZ plans, it is expected diesel cars must be Euro 6 standard (i.e. no more than 5 years old) or at least Euro 4 petrol (i.e. no more than 14 years old) or they will be subject to the extra charge, similar to the Congestion Charge.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “Improving London’s air quality is an urgent challenge, it affects the health and well-being of all Londoners, and it simply cannot be put on hold. Here at City Hall we are doing everything in our power to address it.”

The charge didn’t go down well with motoring personality and campaigner Quentin Wilson of FairFuelUK. He said: “This is totally unfair, already diesel is the most expensive fuel and UK is the only country in EU to price it higher than petrol.

“The Government in 2001 praised diesel as the future fuel of choice, Ministers effectively pushed up diesel car sales with co2 related VED bands as incentives to change. So don’t pick on the motorist, Mr Johnson! You can’t now penalise drivers for trying to do the right thing.”

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