Caroline Lucas responds to air pollution plan

Caroline Lucas, the co-leader of the Green Party, has said that the Government's clean air strategy amounts to 'using a water pistol to put out the air pollution wildfire'. 

According to the Government, air pollution is the fourth biggest threat to public health after cancer, obesity and heart disease.

Responding to trailed extracts of the air pollution strategy, Caroline Lucas said:

"While thousands of people are dying early from filthy air the Government has postured and prevaricated. It's good to see a strategy finally published - but the details of this plan look extremely underwhelming. The Government is using a water pistol to put out the air pollution wildfire.

"The strategy fails to back up their bold claims with any cash - meaning that hard-pressed councils will struggle to implement new plans. Even worse, though, is the utter failure of this Government to stand up to the motor lobby - and its continued promotion of private car travel, despite the huge impacts this has on our health. A serious clean air plan would see investment in public transport, and a reinstatement of the fuel duty escalator to encourage people to switch to cleaner forms of travel."