UK government spent £105,000 in legal fees on lost air pollution case

Government is wasting time and taxpayers' money as it faces a second court challenge over illegal air pollution, say green lawyers

The government spent at least 105,000 in legal costs while fighting and losing a court challenge over illegal levels of air pollution, according to data released through freedom of information rules, and now faces further bills from a new case it is contesting.

ClientEarth, the environmental lawyers who defeated the government, say the taxpayers' money should have been used instead for early and effective action to cut air pollution, which causes 40,000 early deaths a year, according to government figures.