SADIQ Khan’s hated Ulez expansion WILL go ahead after the High Court ruled it lawful today.
Five Tory-led councils in Greater London challenged the unpopular scheme, but judges sided with the Mayor.
GettyThe hated Ulez scheme WILL go ahead after it was ruled lawful by the High Court[/caption]
EPAThe expansion will see all drivers in Greater London whacked with a £12.50 daily charge if their car doesn’t meet green standards[/caption]
PAMayor of London Sadiq Khan welcomed today’s High Court judgment[/caption]
Despite mounting pressure from his own party to halt the expansion, Mr Khan confirmed the scheme will definitely go ahead now.
He said: “The decision to expand the Ulez was very difficult and not something I took lightly and I continue to do everything possible to address any concerns Londoners may have.
“The Ulez has already reduced toxic nitrogen dioxide air pollution by nearly half in central London and a fifth in inner London.
“The coming expansion will see five million more Londoners being able to breathe cleaner air.”
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Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall hit back at Mr Khan, slamming the expansion as “devastating” to hard-up households battling the cost of living crisis.
She said: “While it is a shame the High Court did not find the Ulez expansion to be unlawful, there is no denying that Sadiq Khan’s plans will have a devastating impact on families and businesses across the city.
“If I am elected Mayor, I will stop the Ulez expansion on day one and set up a £50m pollution hotspots fund to tackle the issue where it is, instead of taxing people where it isn’t.”
Louie French, the Tory MP for Bexley and Sidcup, described the news as “disappointing”.
He said: “It’s important to remember that the court case was mainly about the process to expand Ulez, not the policy itself.
“The public consultation and Uxbridge shows that outer London is firmly against this tax and we will continue to fight the Mayor.”
The Ulez expansion will start on August 29th.
All drivers in Greater London will be whacked with a £12.50 daily charge if their car doesn’t meet green standards.
A £110 million scrappage scheme has been set up to help small businesses, charities and households in receipt of child benefit or universal credit get rid of non-compliant vehicles.
But motorists have complained that the £2,000 on offer doesn’t come anywhere close to the cost of replacing their cars.
The Mayor is still under pressure from his own party to rethink the scheme.
Its unpopularity was credited with helping the Tories cling to power at the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election this month.
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Steve Tuckwell, the newly elected MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said: “Uxbridge and South Ruislip sent Mayor Sadiq Khan a clear message last week – halt your ULEZ expansion.
“Londoners cannot go on being ignored by the Labour Party.
“Working with our candidate for Mayor of London, Susan Hall, I’m telling Sadiq Khan, scrap your ULEZ expansion, or Londoners will show him the door next year.”
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves is the latest top Labour MP to call for the expansion to be dropped.
She exclusively told The Sun: “With the cost of living, it doesn’t feel like the right time to clobber people with extra charges.”