The Liberal Democrats have pledged to ban the sale of small diesel vans by 2025, with plans to incentivise plug-ins as an alternative, according to their 2017 manifesto released today.
Revealed as part of the party’s environmental plans, the manifesto outlines a ‘Green Transport Act’ and ‘Air Quality Plan’ aimed at curbing premature deaths from exhaust fumes – an issue it says the government has failed to address adequately.
This proposes banning diesel cars and small vans by 2025, with a scrappage scheme for older vehicles and tax reforms to encourage uptake of ‘electric and low emission’ models.
The manifesto also pledges a five-year deadline for all private hire vehicles and buses operating in urban areas to be ultra-low emission or electric vehicles, and extension of ‘Ultra-Low Emission Zones to ten more towns and cities.
“Air pollution in the UK is a killer,” the document said. “It contributes to 40,000 premature deaths a year and costs the NHS £15 billion. This year, London exceeded its annual air pollution target in just five days. The government has failed time and again to comply with EU limits on pollution.”
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