Diesel car owners may receive government support, PM May says

Prime Minister Theresa May has suggested the UK government may introduce measures to aid diesel car owners, after a crackdown on vehicle emissions.

London mayor Sadiq Khan set out plans this week for an initiative to clean up the air in the capital, through the first ultra-low emissions zone, known as Ulez. The new scheme will come into effect in April 2019, with some drivers facing fines of up to £24 per day.

The previous Labour government led by Gordon Brown slashed taxes on diesel cars in an attempt to bring drivers away from using petrol vehicles.

"In relation to the issue of diesel cars, obviously we will be producing a new air quality plan, we've been required to do that by the courts,” May said on Wednesday during a trip to Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

London mayor Sadiq Khan set out plans this week for an initiative to clean up the air in the capital

"Decisions will be taken when we produce that plan - obviously we will take final decisions as to what we do. But I'm very conscious of the fact that past governments have encouraged people to buy diesel cars and we need to take that into account when we're looking at what we do in the future."

The UK government received a "final warning" from the European Commission about its air quality levels. It was revealed earlier this year that certain areas of London are reaching annual levels of nitrogen dioxide within less than a week.

May did not specify what action would possibly be taken by the government to benefit diesel car owners.

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers on Wednesday, March saw a record high of new car sales in the UK, with an 8.4% increase to 562,337 units.