Diesel drivers should not be clobbered with punishment taxes to deal with air pollution.

That’s the message from Dover MP Charlie Elphicke to Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

Mr Elphicke said: “It’s clear that talk of punishing diesel drivers with higher taxes is deeply unpopular with motorists.

“Drivers want to tackle pollution – but strongly disagree with higher parking charges, toxin taxes in cities or hiking fuel duty.”

Mr Elphicke is vice-chairman of the FairFuelUK all-party Parliamentary group.

He and colleagues are trying to persuade Mr Gove to instead allow a scrappage deal and to help promote electric cars.

He said: “Most motorists agree that a fair scrappage deal for old diesel cars and promoting cleaner fuels and electric vehicles is the right way forward.

“These motorists represent thousands of families, small businesses and white van drivers up and down the land.

"The Government must sit up and listen to their concerns.”

A poll by FairFuel UK shows that two-thirds of drivers would want a scrappage scheme.

A Department Transport report on air quality is due out shortly.

One recommendation is for motorists to face charges for driving into designated clean air zones in some cities.

Diesel cars had for years been recommended as the environmentally-conscious choice but have only recently been blamed for high proportions of air pollution.