Revealed: how Tory politicians fought plans to tackle air pollution

Guardian investigation finds 17 MPs, candidates or associations took out 50 ads criticising a clean air zone

Conservative councillors, MPs and local associations have vocally opposed measures to clean up air pollution, often in opposition to government policy, a Guardian investigation has found.

Transport decarbonisation is one of the government's priority action areas" at the upcoming Cop26 global climate talks. However, cities in the UK have been slow to adopt clean air zones, schemes that deter the use of older, more polluting vehicles and incentivise cleaner forms of transport. Only three cities currently operate a CAZ.