Tories 'on very dodgy ground' over delay of air pollution plan, say experts

Constitutional experts say government is on 'very dodgy ground' claiming election purdah forces it to postpone publishing pollution strategy

The government's attempt to delay publishing its air pollution strategy because of the election is "dishonest" and leaves ministers on "very dodgy ground", according to constitutional experts.

The government had been under a court direction to produce tougher draft measures to tackle illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution, which is responsible for thousands of premature deaths each year, by 4pm on Monday. The original plans had been dismissed by judges as so poor as to be unlawful.