Air Pollution in UK Cities: How Hypocritical Can You Get?

It is well-established that air pollution causes both mental and physical disease in humans (as well as Zoo animals). It even markedly reduces life expectancy. In the UK, air pollution is generally worst in city centres, especially around schools (young people are especially vulnerable to air pollution). The primary cause of the air pollution are the discharges from the exhausts of petrol and diesel-fuelled cars. Pretty obviously, some exhaust emissions also help drive climate change. 'Transport decarbonisation' is said to be a 'priority action area' for the present government. In spite of this claim, many Conservative councillors, Members of Parliament and Local Party Associations have vociferously opposed measures (such as traffic calming, creation of cycle routes, congestion charges etc) designed to clean up air pollution (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/04/tory-politicians-reduce-air-pollution-clean-air-zones). These national and local politicians (polluticians?), belonging to the same party as the government, frequently portray air pollution-reducing measures as 'attacks on the motorist'. I seem to remember a former Mayor of London (what was his name?), sitting on a report that demanded action on inner city air pollution. It's not a good look but it didn't stop people voting for him.