New government diesel taxes could face legal challenge

Ministerial action to actively incentivise millions of motorists to purchase diesel cars – and then later penalise them for doing so – could be ‘unlawful’ and leave the government open to a major legal challenge, lawyers have warned.
Harcus Sinclair, the law firm spearheading the current UK class action suit against the Volkswagen group over the Dieselgate emissions scandal, says the government has “a case to answer” over the way consumers have been misled and then punished for purchasing diesel cars.
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Damon Parker, partner at law firm Harcus Sinclair, told car Express: “There is evidence that the previous government promoted diesel car sales on a knowingly false basis. On the basis of the evidence, the government has a case to answer.
“The strategy of forcing diesel owners to part with their cars through financial penalties is not only unfairly prejudicial, but may be unlawful and subject to challenge.”
The revelation comes days after new diesel car tax increases were announced in the autumn Budget. Cities like London are clamping down on diesel drivers, having recently introduced the £10 T-Charge that applies to older vehicles. Islington Council in London is also due to introduce £2 higher parking fees for diesel owners in 2018.