More than 60 environmental charities are pressing the Labour government to deliver on a clean air act it promised while in opposition but abandoned during the election campaign.
The charities want Parliament to pass legislation that would ban wood burning stoves, accelerate removal of diesel vehicles from roads, and mandate councils to reduce air pollution levels. The push comes ahead of Wednesday's King's Speech, where the government traditionally outlines its legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary session.
Labour backed a clean air act in 2023 when in opposition, positioning it as a centerpiece of environmental policy. Shadow ministers argued the measure would protect public health and establish clean air as a fundamental right. The proposal gained traction among environmental groups and health advocates concerned about air quality in British cities and towns.
However, the clean air act disappeared from Labour's final election manifesto ahead of July's general election, which Keir Starmer's party won decisively. The government has not publicly committed to reviving the legislation since taking office, prompting charities to organize this formal intervention before the King's Speech.
The proposed act would represent significant shifts in environmental regulation. Wood-burning bans target household pollution sources in residential areas. Diesel vehicle restrictions build on existing clean air zone policies that have faced mixed success in major cities. Mandating council action on pollution would create enforceable local accountability for air quality standards.
Environmental groups frame clean air as a health equity issue, noting that low-income neighborhoods often face worse air pollution and associated respiratory diseases. Medical organizations have backed similar legislation.
The charities' letter reflects tension between Labour's opposition-era environmental promises and governing pragmatism. The government faces competing demands around cost of living, economic growth, and green investment. Whether Wednesday's King's Speech includes clean air legislation will signal how seriously the government treats earlier environmental commitments versus other policy priorities.