Government to back extension of 'toxicity' charge on cars across England, says Sunday Times

The environment secretary Andrea Leadsom is set to oblige councils in cities worst affected by air pollution to take action that is likely to lead to similar charges on diesel vehicles as planned in London, according to The Sunday Times.

The claim that Leadsom will back a 'T-charge' in cities such as Birmingham, Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham and Derby on cars as well as older lorries, coaches and taxis, comes as the liberal Conservative think-tank Bright Blue puts out a report recommending that English cities have more power to ban certain cars in order to protect children from illegal levels of air pollution.

The news comes ahead of mayoral elections for major cities this year including the West Midlands, which the Conservatives have hopes of winning. The London Mayor's T-charge would see the most polluting cars charged an additional £10 to enter the central London area inside the north and south circulars from 2019.