More than 60 charities have called on ministers to introduce a new clean air act that would ban wood burning, remove diesel vehicles from roads, and force local councils to cut pollution. The appeal comes ahead of the king’s speech on Wednesday, as Labour has yet to fulfil a promise made while in opposition in 2023 to bring forward such legislation, which was dropped from the final election manifesto.
Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums for Lungs, said air pollution costs the UK about £27bn a year and is linked to asthma, cancer and dementia. She urged the government to phase out wood-burning stoves and provide support for rural households to switch to cleaner heating like heat pumps. Stephen Holgate, adviser to the Royal College of Physicians, told the BMJ that wood-burning particles are at least as toxic as coal, yet only 24 fines were issued from over 15,000 complaints in the year from August 2024 to August 2025.
The BMJ also revealed lobbying by the Stove Industry Association (SIA) that influenced decisions in Scotland and England. The Scottish government abandoned plans to ban wood burners in new homes after SIA lobbying, and the previous UK government held eight meetings with the SIA compared to two with clean air campaigners between 2021 and 2024. Since Labour took office, Defra has met the SIA three times and campaigners 14 times.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government issued guidance allowing wood-burning stoves in new homes, despite earlier indications that low-carbon heat pumps would be required. The SIA defended its engagement as open and standard, supporting evidence-based measures to reduce emissions. Hartshorn said the government must cut ties with industry lobbyists to protect children's health and end the sale of new wood stoves.
