4,400 Londoners dying early because of air pollution - Kramer

11.10.16am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 21st May 2009

At least 4,400 Londoners are dying prematurely every year because of air pollution, according to research by the Liberal Democrats based on official EU reports.

This number is four times greater than previously admitted by the Mayor of London.

London is doing badly on two measures of air quality - particles leading to premature death and the nitrogen dioxide emissions which aggravate childhood asthma. Nitrogen dioxide emissions are particularly associated with air travel, strengthening the case against a third runway at Heathrow.

Liberal Democrats are pressing for the UK to fully comply with air quality laws in time for the 2012 Olympics.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, and leading campaigner against a third Heathrow runway, Susan Kramer said:

"It is almost impossible to comprehend that well over 4,000 people a year in our city are having their lives cut short needlessly. Yet despite this, Gordon Brown rammed through plans for the third runway against massive opposition.

"The Government and the Mayor have to explain why they have been dragging their feet on pollution whilst massively underestimating the damage being done.

"People are paying for the inaction of those in power with their lives."