Skip advert
Advertisement

Liberal Democrats pledge to ban diesel car sales

2025 deadline promised in Lib Dem election manifesto, alongside scrappage scheme

SCR is used to clean up diesel emissions

The Liberal Democrats have published their 2017 general election manifesto, and among the 96 pages of policy lie a number of strategies and five new laws for tackling air quality.

One of the most attention-grabbing of these is a proposed ban on diesel car and small van sales, which the Lib Dems would introduce by 2025. As well as this political stick, however, there would also be the carrot of a scrappage scheme, which was expected to be announced by the Conservative Government earlier in the year, but failed to materialise.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Lib Dem manifesto details five new green laws, which comprise a Green Transport Act, a Zero-Carbon Britain Act, a Nature Act, a Green Buildings Act, and a Zero-Waste Act.

Under the first of these, diesel cars and light commercial vehicles would no longer be sold in the UK by 2025, while taxis and buses operating in urban areas would be forced to run on ultra-low-emission or zero-emission fuels within five years.

Other environmental plans include a reform to vehicle taxation to encourage the sale of electric and low-polluting vehicles, plus a sharp focus on the development of electric charging points and EV infrastructure.

The manifesto also proposes 10 more ultra-low-emission zones, presumably over and above London’s forthcoming ULEZ, which is expected in 2021, and planned zones in Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton.

The manifesto cites evidence from a 2016 study by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health that puts 40,000 annual deaths down to air pollution.

The Liberal Democrats are expected to win roughly 10% of the vote in the June election, according to the latest opinion polls.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Peugeot 208 coming soon with hot GTi version under consideration
Peugeot 208 GTi render front quarter
News
10 Mar 2025

New Peugeot 208 coming soon with hot GTi version under consideration

New giant Skoda EV coming next year to challenge the Kia EV9
Skoda seven seater EV teaser front
News
13 Mar 2025

New giant Skoda EV coming next year to challenge the Kia EV9

Best car leasing deals 2025: this week’s top PCH offers
Mazda CX-5 tracking
Deals
13 Mar 2025

Best car leasing deals 2025: this week’s top PCH offers

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

The 10 best electric cars in 2025
Bets electric cars 2025
Best cars
31 Jan 2025

The 10 best electric cars in 2025

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2025
Best cheap to run cars
Best cars
8 Jan 2025

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2025

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2025
Fastest hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars
22 Jan 2025

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2025