Ulez expansion: ‘Get Khan out’, protesters demand outside Downing …

Protesters descended on Whitehall on Tuesday to demand that the expansion of Sadiq Khan’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) be scrapped. 

Dozens of campaigners waved placards with messages such as “stop the toxic air lie”, and mocked-up car registration plates reading: “get Khan out”. Others carried a coffin past the gates of Downing Street with the words, “RIP London”. 

The £12.50 daily charge for older polluting vehicles was widened to all London boroughs on Tuesday following months of controversy, having previously ended at the north and south circular roads. 

The backlash has stepped up a gear, with some parts of London seeing every one of their Ulez cameras vandalised on the day of the expansion.

Rishi Sunak also lashed out at Mr Khan, accusing him of being the “one person responsible” for “hit[ting] working families”.

6:07PM [1]

That's all for today

Thank you for following our live coverage of the first day of the Ulez expansion.

5:46PM [2]

Mother of girl who died of air pollution 'concerned' about Ulez cost

The mother of a nine-year-old girl who died from exposure to London’s traffic said she is “concerned” about poorer people being impacted by expanding the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez).

Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died in 2013 after an asthma attack, and in a landmark coroner’s case was the first person to have air pollution listed as a cause of death at an inquest in the UK.

Her mother Rosamund has campaigned for cleaner air in UK cities since Ella’s death and is a strong supporter of the Ulez expansion, saying Tuesday was “a good day for everyone” but said “individual things need to be looked at”.

People who drive in the zone in a vehicle that does not meet minimum emissions standards are now required to pay a £12.50 daily fee or risk a £180 fine, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.

Asked about concerns over costs, Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, from Lewisham, said: “Of course I’m concerned because we don’t want the poorest to be impacted, but to speak to those people who are incredibly poor, who don’t even own a car, who are on the main roads waiting for buses, I hope in time, they will have cleaner air as well because they don’t even own a car and yet they are adversely impacted.”

4:37PM [3]

How has Ulez affected you?

If you have been hit by the Ulez expansion, share your experience with us below.

Ulez expansion[4] 4:32PM [5]

Sadiq Khan: The evidence is on my side

Sadiq Khan has been touring the broadcast studios defending Ulez from critics throughout the day, and now he has written an op-ed too. 

The London Mayor said the scheme has already cut toxic nitrogen dioxide levels by nearly half in central London and a fifth in inner London since the inner boundary was introduced, and said it had led to a reduction in carbon emissions equivalent to that produced by over one million flights from London to New York.

He insisted that “the evidence shows clean air zones like Ulez are by far the most effective way of tackling air pollution in a city like London” and defended the scrappage scheme as enough to offset “genuine concerns” about the costs for drivers. 

Mr Khan concluded: “The preventable premature deaths related to air pollution, catastrophic heatwaves, wildfires and extreme weather events wreaking havoc across the world remind us that the greatest risk of all is to do nothing at all.”

4:21PM [6]

£100 for a trip into central London

Steve and Jan Mayne, both 70 from Uxbridge, one of the new areas in the Ulez boundary, are worried the charge will impact how often they see their two sons, who will be forced to pay each time they visit their parents, Blathnaid Corless reports.

“Two of my children live in High Wycombe and they both have non-compliant cars. Ulez has made it very inconvenient for them to come and visit us as they will have to pay £12.50 every time,” Mrs Mayne said.

“They definitely won’t be able to come and visit as often as they usually do now.”

Ms Mayne said they had planned to meet their sons on Tuesday in central London, on the day the Ulez expansion came in, and it had cost nearly £100 with Ulez charges, congestion zone charges and parking fees.

“I’m really angry about it,” Mrs Mayne said.

Her husband added: “What really annoys me is that we live about a mile from the M25, where a third of the traffic to do with HS2 and big heavy HGVs. So to say that to spare our air they’re going to charge our son £12.50… we’re not happy about it.”

3:59PM [7]

In pictures: Ulez protests head to Downing Street

Ulez protestors on Whitehall, outside Downing Street Ulez protestors on Whitehall, outside Downing Street Credit: Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph Campaigners are angry about the £12.50 daily charge being expanded Campaigners are angry about the £12.50 daily charge being expanded Credit: Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph Protesters even brought coffins and costumes with them to Downing Street Protesters even brought coffins and costumes with them to Downing Street Credit: Guy Corbishley / Alamy Live News 3:31PM [8]

Nurse faces £390 monthly bill just to get to work

It is not just Whitehall where the anger is palpable, with residents in the east London town of Romford gathering en masse this afternoon to protest against the Ulez expansion.

Crowds slowly swelled to support protesters carrying signs taking aim at the London Mayor Sadiq Khan. 

Lorraine Marling, a local resident and nurse, was told her 55-reg Volkswagen car did not meet the new requirements, meaning she now has to pay £15 a day simply to travel to work.

“I’m doing a night shift tonight at 7:30,” the 50-year-old, who works at Southend Hospital in Essex, explained.

“I finish tomorrow at 7:30am. I’m going to have to pay tonight and tomorrow to drive to and from work.

“It’s £15 per day with VAT. It’s going to cost me £390 per calendar month just to get to work.

“How can I afford that? That’s a quarter of my wages just to go to work.”

As more protesters arrived outside the Golden Lion pub on Romford’s high street, carrying signs reading “Take the cameras down”, Victor Vella said the recent Ulez expansion had bled more than £22,000 from his scrap metal business.

The 55-year-old, who runs Rush Green Recycling and Reclamation, called on the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to “get off the fence and make a decision” and said “it’s so unclear” whether you are in or out of the Ulez zone. 

3:04PM [9]

Motorists still facing delays on TfL's website

Transport for London’s website is still struggling with the demand of people checking whether their car is Ulez-compliant. 

Motorists are still being greeted with a message that says: “Our website is busier than usual. You are now in a queue, and your expected wait time is 2 minute(s). If you prefer not to wait, please try again later.”

The problem has lasted all day. As we reported earlier, an AA spokesman said: “Some AA members experienced delays checking with the TfL website whether their vehicles were compliant this morning. Most members did get through after waiting several minutes.”

3:01PM [10]

'Prices of Ulez-compliant cars have surged'

Zaeem Din, a 47-year-old father of two from Hayes, sold his Audi over a month ago and he claims he has been unable to find a replacement as the prices of Ulez-compliant cars have surged, Blathnaid Corless reports.

“I had to sell my car and I didn’t want to. For my family it was the perfect car,” he said.

“I haven’t been able to replace it as the prices have gone up on used cars. They’ve gone up about £1,500-£2,000 in the past month from what I’ve seen. People are clearly taking advantage of it.

“They’ve seen the opportunity to put the prices up now as people are going to be desperate to buy them.”

Mr Din said he and his wife were now having to share a car thanks to Ulez, which was making it difficult to take their two children, aged 12 and 14, to see their friends and to do their sports and hobbies.

“At the moment I’m just driving my wife’s car. We have to do everything together now and we’re a lot less independent,” he said.

2:26PM [11]

New Ulez residents are twice as reliant on cars for commuting

By Ben Butcher, data journalist

Residents in boroughs new to Ulez are twice as likely to rely on a car to get to work, figures show. 

Around 46 per cent of commuters in the expanded zone drive to work, compared to just 20 per cent in those areas already within the low emission zone, Telegraph analysis of census data shows. 

The figures show the inequalities in access to public transport across the city, with figures ranging from 60 per cent of commuters in Hillingdon and Havering relying on cars, compared to just 16 per cent in Westminster and Islington. 

Zoom in even closer and the figures hit as high as 80 per cent in Biggin Hill, Bromley and Harefield, in Hillingdon - both now part of the expanded Ulez zone. 

The reliance on cars in these areas, unsurprisingly, overlaps with public transport blindspots previously highlighted by Telegraph analysis. 

3008 ulez cars[12] 2:19PM [13]

The road where 14 Ulez cameras have been targeted

More than a dozen Ulez cameras have been vandalised in a single town amid the first day of the London-wide expansion.

On Tuesday morning, 14 cameras within a half-mile stretch on the A224 in Orpington in Bromley, south east London, had been damaged.

The controversial cameras have been spray painted, smashed or had the wires cut at junctions in Court road and Cray Avenue. 

Only two of the 16 cameras on the stretch of road had emerged unscathed.

2:15PM [14]

Poll: Have your say

Should Sadiq Khan scrap the new Ulez expansion? [15] 2:14PM [16]

Self-employed forced to plumb their pockets

Steve Cuthbert, a 62-year-old carpenter from West London, has owned his Ford van for 16 years and will now have to replace it out of his own pocket to continue to do his job.

“I’m not happy at all,” he said. “It’s the timing isn’t it - the cost of living crisis, Covid. It’s been a struggle the past couple of years.”

“I’m gutted to have to get rid of it. I’m self employed so I’m going to have to change it out of my own pocket. 

“For vans you’re looking at ridiculous money, maybe £40,000 for a new one.”

Mr Cuthbert, who lives in Ruislip, added: “The whole things seems more about money than the environment to me. 

“Who is greener - someone like me who hasn’t changed his van in 16 years or someone who buys a new van every three or four years?”

Anti-Ulez protesters gather outside Downing Street Anti-Ulez protesters gather outside Downing Street Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire 1:57PM [17]

On Whitehall, many believe they've been told a lie

By Rosa Silverman at the Whitehall protest

Everyone here is sceptical of the statistics and evidence used to justify the measure. Many believe they have been lied to.

“It’s a pack of lies and it’s just a big tax con,” says Cheryl Hart., 61. “It’s affecting hard-working people, the working class who need to make a living.”

Isn’t there a need to improve air quality? “Not in outer London. We haven’t got toxic air in Orpington.”

A woman with a loud hailer leads a chant of “Get Khan out,” while a man displays his faith in London’s clean air with a sign describing Ulez as a solution without a problem.

“The studies have shown that Ulez makes no difference (to air quality),” says Vicky Harding, 28, from Wallington. “I don’t understand how paying £12.50 a day makes the air any cleaner.”

At one point a man in army-print shorts and rucksack walks in front of a bus and tries to stop it with his hand. Another protester removes him, as the drummer beats on relentlessly.

Protesters carry a coffin down Whitehall on Tuesday afternoon Protesters carry a coffin down Whitehall on Tuesday afternoon Credit: Kin Cheung/AP 1:51PM [18]

The village plagued by Ulez vandals

Dozens of Ulez cameras were out of action this morning after they were vandalised, cut down and had foam sprayed across them.

All of the cameras close to the village of Harefield, in north west London, are thought to have been targeted.

One local who posted pictures of the cameras online said: “Went for my early morning dog walk and .... the leprechauns and pixies have been out causing mischief again.”

Other cameras were spray painted, while elsewhere they were covered with stickers, poles were cut down had cardboard boxes places next to them with ‘No to Ulez’ written on, while some drivers have even taped over their number plates to avoid detection.

1:42PM [19]

Live: Anti-Ulez protesters descend on Whitehall

Ulez protesters are out in force on Whitehall Ulez protesters are out in force on Whitehall Credit: Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph Nigel Farage has joined the protesters Nigel Farage has joined the protesters Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire Many are angry at the Ulez charges Many are angry at the Ulez charges Credit: Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph 1:32PM [20]

£20,000 bill for 'beloved' Ford Mondeo

Pensioners Bill, 78, and Elaine, 74, from Harrow said they were forced to spend more than £20,000 replacing their “beloved” Ford Mondeo for a new Ulez-compliant car one month ago thanks to the changes, Blathnaid Corless writes.

“I had my beloved Mondeo for 11 years and it has done just under 34,000 miles. It was hardly running and I had to get rid of it. It would have gone on forever,” Bill said. 

“I bought diesel because at the time the Government said ‘if you buy petrol you’re being evil’. Now I’m told if I buy diesel I’m being evil.”

He added: “I can see the reasoning that the fumes damage people’s health. Although I suspect it’s been slightly overhyped.”

1:29PM [21]

Overrule Khan, Sunak told

Husband and wife Tom and Carolyn Dare were among the crowd outside Downing Street on Tuesday to protest against Ulez.

Ms Dare said she wanted Rishi Sunak to “overrule Sadiq Kahn”.

“He has got the power. They can get rid of a Prime Minister, anytime they like,” she said, adding she felt the Conservatives were using the issue to fight Labour and to help them win the next election “but they are hurting a lot of people”.

The pair said the new charge was a significant portion of their weekly pension.

Last week, No 10 was blocked from overruling the Ulez expansion after government lawyers warned its bid would be rejected by the courts - 12:44PM [23]

'Stop the toxic air lie', Whitehall protesters demand

Dozens of protesters have gathered on Whitehall, many dressed in yellow vests, a visual echo of France’s protests by motorists, Rosa Silverman writes.

The crowd are holding number plates saying “No 2 ULEZ”, “Take back democracy” and “stop the toxic air lie”.

Shortly after midday, a funeral-style procession marched past, the leaders carrying a makeshift coffin with “democracy” written on the side. 

“Sadiq Khan is doing this for his own reputation,” said Claire Turner, a graphic designer in her 50s, from Wallington. “It’s so disruptive on so many levels.” 

Over the deafening noise of car horns and whistles, a man with a loud hailer struggles to make himself heard. The word “delusional” escapes over the din. 

12:30PM [24]

Anti-Ulez protest begins at Downing Street

Protesters are gathering outside Downing Street for a march against Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion. 

Campaigners are stood on Whitehall waving placards with messages such as “RIP London - blood on your hands Khan” and “get Khan out”. 

Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, says he has “never seen people so angry about this new tax on working people”. He tweeted:

Huge anti-ULEZ protest happening outside of Downing Street right now.

I’ve never seen people so angry about this new tax on working people.

Are you listening @SadiqKhan? pic.twitter.com/EihH6ZRpFf[25][26]

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) August 29, 2023[27] 12:24PM [28]

Cancer expert: This is as flimsy as lockdown

Professor Karol Sikora, an oncologist and former director on the World Health Organisation’s Cancer Programme, has compared the Ulez expansion to flimsy arguments in favour of Covid lockdowns. 

He says it is “a classic example of a public health measure being forced through with very little evidence in the name of ‘saving lives’”. 

He tweeted:

I don't agree with today's ULEZ expansion.

A classic example of a public health measure being forced through with very little evidence in the name of 'saving lives', regardless of the consequences across society and the economy.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

— Professor Karol Sikora (@ProfKarolSikora) August 29, 2023[29] 12:21PM [30]

Sadiq Khan defends 'difficult decision'

The London Mayor has leaped to the defence of his Ulez policy as a backlash mounts.

He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Today: in a move that will see five million more Londoners breathe cleaner air, the ULEZ has expanded to cover all of London. This was a difficult decision - but it’s the right one to save lives.”

TODAY: in a move that will see five million more Londoners breathe cleaner air, the ULEZ has expanded to cover all of London.

This was a difficult decision - but it's the right one to save lives.#ULEZExpansion #CleanAir pic.twitter.com/HXZb0MbexA[31][32][33]

— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) August 29, 2023[34] 12:16PM [35]

The Ulez backlash continues

A damaged ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) camera lying on the road in Harefield. Greater London A damaged ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) camera lying on the road in Harefield. Greater London Credit: AJ Simpson/PA Wire A road sign indicating the ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is defaced in London A road sign indicating the ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is defaced in London Credit: Kin Cheung/AP 11:51AM [36]

Uxbridge MP: Ulez expansion a ‘very dark day’ for London

The newly-elected Tory MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has described the expansion of Ulez to outer London as a “very dark day” for the capital, Jack Maidment writes.

Steve Tuckwell told Sky News: “We have a Labour Mayor who is determined to hammer businesses and determined to hammer family incomes to the tune of £4,500.

“Not a good day for London today and particularly outer London and my constituents here in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.” 

Mr Tuckwell argued that even households with Ulez-compliant vehicles will suffer a “knock-on impact”. 

“Whether it be carers, whether it be gardeners, whether it be plumbers or service people, those costs are going to be passed onto people with compliant vehicles and people do see that,” he said. 

“So it is going to have an impact on all business and it is going to have an impact on all households across Uxbridge and South Ruislip and outer London.”

11:24AM [37]

On the ground: 'Like paying rent for your own car'

Marius Purice, 45, drives a white diesel-run Audi A5 which he says is his “pride and joy”, but will now be forced to sell the car as is does not comply with Ulez, Blathnaid Corless reports.

The carpenter from Harrow - one of the outer London boroughs which is seeing the Ulez expansion come into force from today - said the charge was “like paying rent” on your own car.

“I can’t believe I’m going to need to change my car now. It’s going to cost me upwards of £15,000. 

“But having to pay £12.50 a day is like paying rent for your own car. After 20 days of driving every day it would cost you £250. You might as well just buy a new one.”

Mr Purice also questioned what would happen to his relatively new, 2015 registration car after he sells it, given the new low emission zones all over London.

“What’s going to happen to my car? It’s a good car. I’ve had it for seven years. I don’t want to sell it - but what can I do?”

11:12AM [38]

Ulez cameras covered in red paint

Sadiq Khan has faced an immediate backlash to his Ulez expansion as cameras used to enforce the charge on polluting vehicles were vandalised. 

Four Ulez cameras in Bromley, south east London, were seemingly taken out of commission on Tuesday morning after being covered in red paint. 

Court Road, Bromley where four Ulez cameras have all been vandalised using red paint, making them useless on the first day of the expansion Court Road, Bromley where four Ulez cameras have all been vandalised using red paint, making them useless on the first day of the expansion Credit: SWNS Bromley is one of the areas now falling under the Ulez charge from August 29 Bromley is one of the areas now falling under the Ulez charge from August 29 Credit: Tony Kershaw, SWNS 11:05AM [39]

Which roads are affected?

3008 which roads are affected by ulez[40] 11:05AM [41]

How Ulez has expanded

London's ULEZ expansion plan[42] 11:03AM [43]

Sunak: 'One person responsible'

Rishi Sunak hit out at Labour and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, as he said he was opposed to the expansion of Ulez in the capital.

The Prime Minister told broadcasters: “I think people and families are struggling with the cost of living, that is obvious to everyone.

“And at that time, the Labour Party, the Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan and Keir Starmer are introducing the Ulez charge which is going to hit working families.

“I don’t think that’s the right priority, I don’t think that’s the right thing to do and I wish they hadn’t done it.”

Mr Sunak claimed that sole responsibility for the scheme lies with Mr Khan, amid questions about Boris Johnson’s role as mayor in the original development of Ulez.

“There is one party and one person responsible for what is happening and that is the Labour mayor and the Labour Party in London, supported by Keir Starmer,” he said.

10:57AM [44]

Where Ulez is opposed most

2207 views on ulez[45] 10:27AM [46]

Residents in Ulez expansion zone face two-mile treks to nearest train station

Residents in hundreds of postcodes caught under Sadiq Khan’s expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) face a journey of more than two miles to the nearest public transport.

Analysis of almost 330,000 postcodes across Greater London highlights transport deserts where people are heavily reliant on their car, but are several miles away from a train, tram or bus stop.

The most remote of these is in the London Borough of Bromley. Grays Road in Westerham is four miles away from Knockholt railway station, a journey that is estimated to take an hour-and-a-half on foot. It is also more than 750m away from the nearest bus stop.

It is one of almost 1,000 postcodes across London which is more than two miles away from its nearest tram or Tube stop. This is the equivalent of walking from Buckingham Palace to Brixton, more than an hour’s walk according to Google Maps.

10:20AM [48]

Ulez calculator: Can you save money?

Telegraph ulez calculator[49] 10:17AM [50]

Mayor accuses Transport Secretary of 'factual errors'

Sadiq Khan accused Transport Secretary Mark Harper of “factual errors”.

The Labour mayor told BBC Breakfast: “I just bumped into Mark Harper as he was leaving the studio and I think he made a couple of factual errors, which is really worth me clarifying.

“If this was about making money, I’d have acceded to the demand from the Government to expand the congestion charge much wider than it currently is. That would have been a cash grab, but I said ‘no’.

“If it was a cash grab - as the Government is saying - just to raise money, I’d have acceded to their demand to expand the Ulez without proper consultation and a proper scrappage scheme.

“This is about helping our air be cleaner. In a couple of years’ time, TfL have predicted there will be no additional money made because the number of non-compliant vehicles (will decrease), but every penny net made is used to reinvest in public transport, improving buses in outer London, improving public transport in our city.”

10:15AM [51]

Sadiq Khan 'has more plans to charge drivers'

The Mayor of London wants to roll out more road user charging schemes like the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), the Transport Secretary has said.

Speaking on LBC’s Nick Ferrari programme, Mark Harper said: “One of the problems here is that a number of London local authorities don’t support this scheme coming into force, so for the future, we are backing an amendment, a backbench amendment to a piece of legislation which will mean in future any road user charging schemes like this would have to be also backed by London boroughs.

“And that’s important because if you look at the Mayor of London’s own website for his Project 2030 scheme, he wants to roll out more road user charging schemes, pay-per-mile schemes across London.

“There are a whole bunch of jobs on that website, some of them paying up to £90,000 a year of your listeners’ money, to do pay-per-mile schemes in the future. And we want to make sure that if he were to try and do that or any future mayor, London local councils would have to support it for it to come into force.”

10:13AM [52]

Thousands apply for scrappage scheme

Sadiq Khan said Transport for London (TfL) had received more than 15,000 applications for its Ulez scrappage scheme in the past week.

He told BBC Breakfast: “I was able to announce a policy where every single Londoner is now eligible to apply. I spoke to TfL this morning. They turn around these (applications) within a matter of days.

“In the last week there have been - as we predicted - more than 15,000 applications. I think 14,000 vehicles have already been scrapped. I’d encourage your viewers, check whether your vehicle is compliant. It probably is. If it’s not, apply for support.”

10:11AM [53]

Mapped: the expanded Ulez zone

The expanded Ulez zone and some of the key roads leading into it.

3008 ULEZ with highlighted roads[54] 10:10AM [55]

Clean air 'a right, not a privilege'

Sadiq Khan said clean air is “a right, not a privilege”.

The Mayor of London told BBC Breakfast: “We now have a really effective policy to reduce air pollution. It’s shown to be effective in central London and inner London, but I think clean air is a right not a privilege.

“What about outer London? Why shouldn’t they breathe clean air? Why should they carry on dying prematurely in numbers that could be reversed?”

10:08AM [56]

Mayor rules of pay-per-mile scheme for motorists

Sadiq Khan said a pay-per-mile scheme for motorists will not be introduced in London while he is mayor.

He told Times Radio: “I am ruling out a pay-per-mile scheme whilst I am mayor, it’s not on the agenda, it’s not on the table.

“But it’s no secret that the Government, transport officials in London and around the country, have been looking at for some time, in relation to a smarter, streamlined service for a variety of reasons, not least because the Government are worried about fuel revenues drying up over the course of the next few years.

“In fact, Boris Johnson, when he was the mayor of London - remember him? - in his transport strategy there was talk about a pay-per-mile scheme. When Rishi Sunak was chancellor he asked his Treasury officials to look into these schemes. There’s no secrecy around this.”

10:07AM [57]

Ulez not anti-car, insists Khan

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has insisted expansion of the capital’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) is “not anti-car”.

He told Times Radio: “The policy to clean the air in London is not anti-car or anti-motorist. The good news is actually nine out of 10 cars seen driving in outer London on an average day are already compliant.

“So there is no additional fee for you to pay, no restrictions on you, yet you benefit from the clean air. But I accept there are a small number of cars that will be affected, they are non-compliant cars.

“They themselves, the drivers, breathe in pollutants, and that’s why I’ve announced that every single driver in London of a car or motorbike, every small business with a van, every charity with a minibus, will receive financial support (for scrapping non-compliant vehicles).”

10:06AM [58]

Transport Secretary 'would stop Ulez expansion'

The Transport Secretary said he would stop the expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) if he had the power to do so.

Speaking on GB News, Mark Harper said: “I don’t have the power to stop it coming into force. That’s a decision for the Mayor of London backed by the Labour leader. I think he should think again.

“He says this has to do with air quality, his own impact assessment says this will only have a minor to negligible effect on air pollution. It’s not about air pollution, it’s about a money-raising exercise and this is absolutely not the time to be putting all those costs on hard-pressed and hard-working Londoners and those in the area outside London.”

Asked if he would stop the expansion if he had the power, Mr Harper said: “Yes, I don’t have the power, though. We’ve looked at this really carefully. Despite what some people say, including on your channel, I don’t have the legal power to block it.

“That’s a decision for the Mayor of London, and it’s not too late for him to think again.”

References

  1. ^ 6:07PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  2. ^ 5:46PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  3. ^ 4:37PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  4. ^ Ulez expansion (cf-particle-html.eip.telegraph.co.uk)
  5. ^ 4:32PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  6. ^ 4:21PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  7. ^ 3:59PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  8. ^ 3:31PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  9. ^ 3:04PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  10. ^ 3:01PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  11. ^ 2:26PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  12. ^ 3008 ulez cars (cf-particle-html.eip.telegraph.co.uk)
  13. ^ 2:19PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  14. ^ 2:15PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  15. ^ Should Sadiq Khan scrap the new Ulez expansion? (cf-particle-html.eip.telegraph.co.uk)
  16. ^ 2:14PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  17. ^ 1:57PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  18. ^ 1:51PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  19. ^ 1:42PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  20. ^ 1:32PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  21. ^ 1:29PM (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  22. ^