UK ministers ‘misled public’ when scrapping air quality regulations

Smog over London. The Green party MP Caroline Lucas said the documents reinforce concerns ‘that the government’s approach would create dangerous gaps in transparency and accountability’. Photograph: Nicholas.T Ansell/PA

Ministers have been accused of “misleading the public” after documents obtained by Ends Report and the Guardian revealed they ignored their officials’ advice when scrapping key air quality regulations.

On 31 December, two key air quality regulations will drop off the statute book under the Retained EU Law (REUL) Act.