Emissions scandal: how the drive for diesel ran out of gas

Diesel, with its lower CO₂ emissions, was a policy priority but NOx failed to fall despite the 'stringent' regulations

From backroom deals between European leaders to the burying of the bad news of 23,000 premature UK deaths on the day Jeremy Corbyn was elected Labour leader, the scandal that has engulfed the diesel car is a startling tale.

It is a story of good intentions being relentlessly undermined and has a nasty twist in the tail: even the real rationale for Europe's drive for diesel - to curb global warming - has run into the wall.