Implementing a tax on diesel cars would not improve the environment but would damage the economy.

Only 1% of UK drivers believe adding a diesel tax will improve the environment

So says campaign group FairFuelUK following reports earlier this year that a diesel tax could be implemented to help improve air quality.

The group said that it’s recently been informed by a reliable Whitehall Source that the Treasury and the Department of Transport were testing the water on the idea and so leaked out this diesel emissions tax hike idea.

However, FairfuelUK’s research indicates that such a tax would not bring about the intended benefits. Only 1 in 100 UK drivers believe that adding a pollution tax to diesel will improve the environment. Four out of five diesel drivers saying they have no choice but to drive the same mileage even with a speculative green tax added to their fuel bill. And 98% of drivers believe such a tax hike would cost jobs, increase inflation and purely just raise extra cash for the Treasury.

Last week saw the publication of a report by the Environmental Audit Committee calling for increased government support to meet targets on electric vehicles.

Quentin Willson, lead campaigner for FairFuelUK, said: “Punishing millions of diesel drivers for mistakes in past government policy is neither fair nor honest. We need to incentivise drivers of the most polluting and older diesels to switch to cleaner cars. Scrappage schemes and greater tax breaks for electric and hybrids will help clean our air.”