Diesel scrappage scheme plans WILL be published before election after High Court ruling

Mr Justice Graham has now ordered the government to proceed plans after the local elections on May 9th. 

The final air pollution plans will be submitted on 31 July. 

Mr Justice Garnham today ordered the government to produce the plans after the local elections on 9 May. The final plans must be produced by 31 July. 

Reacting to the judgment, ClientEarth CEO James Thornton, said: “We are delighted with the ruling. 

“We cannot afford more dither and delay from the government. 

“Rather than appeal this decision, they need to get on and produce their plans to bring down air pollution as soon as possible.”

“The judge agreed with us that this is a matter of public health, not politics.”

Yesterday, the judge has called the government to High Court to justify its application for a last minute extension to the deadline to produce draft plans to clean up the UK’s illegal levels of air pollution. 

However, when pressed by the judge, the government’s Counsel said he could not give the court a “guarantee” that delaying the draft plan past the general election would not have an impact on the implementation of measures to reduce air pollution as soon as possible.

The judge did, however, accept that purdah rules would affect local elections but would not influence the final publication date for plans that he set in his ruling in November of last year.