Government's air quality plan branded inadequate by city leaders

Michael Gove's pledge to ban new petrol and diesel cars in 23 years is not enough to tackle health crisis now, say campaigners

The government's new clean air plan has been branded inadequate by the leaders of eight heavily polluted cities, as campaigners said banning petrol and diesel cars from 2040 would not help the thousands dying each year from illnesses linked to toxic fumes.

The long-awaited report was published by Michael Gove, the environment secretary, on Wednesday, after a court ruled last year that the government must improve its proposals for tackling illegal levels of pollution.