Mike Tuffrey 

Mike Tuffrey, Liberal Democrat London Assembly environment spokesperson, commenting on reports that Britain could face fines up to £175 million by the International Olympic Committee if it continues to break air pollution laws by the time the Games start said:

“Air pollution in London is not new, even if the last few days has been a powerful reminder of just how serious the problem actually is.

“London has been set to host the 2012 Games for the last six years and Boris Johnson has been the Mayor of London for three years, so the obvious question is how we have ever got into this situation?

“Yet while we need to avoid international embarrassment next year what really matters is that air pollution is permanently tackled. The number one reason for tackling air pollution is the immense harm it does to the health of Londoners, literally every day of the year.

“Instead of short term panic measures we need to take real action to permanently tackle London’s air pollution, starting with a Clean Air Zone for central London which would take the most polluting vehicles off the roads where pollution is the biggest problem.”