Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner expressed concern about Ules after Uxbridge's results. Photo: Stéphane Rousseau/PA
Angela Reiner, his deputy, also admitted that supporting Ules during the cost of living crisis had undermined Labor's support in the seat.
Speaking at Selby and Ainsty, where Labor did win on Friday, Sir Keir said: “There's no doubt Ulez was the reason we didn't win Uxbridge and we should all think about it and the mayor should think about it.” his course is to clash with Mr Khan, one of Labour's most senior elected officials.
Proponents of the scheme argue it is the only way to reduce London's air pollution, which has reached dangerous levels in some areas.
However, detractors say Mr Khan is using him as a cash cow to support the ailing Transport for London network, which is struggling financially in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
The policy has divided the Labor Party, with some MPs and activists arguing that the expansion should be delayed to avoid burdening households with additional bills during the economic crisis. .
ULEZ expansion plan in London
Sir Keir has previously supported the expansion but acknowledged problems with the “scrapper” scheme, which provides funding to poorer drivers who replace their cars with cleaner models.
On Friday morning, Ms Rayner admitted that Londoners 'can't afford' the scheme and appeared to blame Mr Khan for hosting the party in Uxbridge.
“The results in Uxbridge show that people want to do the right thing but don't want to be penalized because they can't afford to change their car and there is no legal recycling scheme to help them do the right thing,” she told BBC Breakfast.She warned that Labor “must recognize that people need to be compensated and need a way to do things that won't affect their cost of living crisis when people can't afford it.”
Mr Khan, who will run again in London's mayoral election in May, is resisting government and Labor MPs' attempts to undermine his scheme.
Speaking on Friday, he said: “Of course I am disappointed that this place, which has never been Labor in my life, was not Labor last night. Obviously, I applaud the 7% move to Labor on this outskirts of London. We are determined to clear things up.”
On Friday morning, a City Hall source distanced himself from his loss in Uxbridge, saying the by-election “will always be difficult” for Labour.
“Labour hasn't won the seat for five decades, and Tony Blair didn't even get it in the 1997 landslide,” the source said. “Sadiq has always made it clear that Ulez's expansion was indeed a difficult decision, but necessary to save the lives of young and vulnerable Londoners.”
BY-ELECTION – Uxbridge and South Ruislip
The Conservatives looked to Uxbridge as the only good news on a terrible night and hope the focus on local issues will help them in the general election.
Mr Tuckwell told reporters after of her victory: “My campaign was incredibly single-minded, and from the very beginning it was really completely against Ules.”
“It's not me saying it, I'm not the one who called the referendum on Ules. They are the people of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.”
Labor's Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry dismissed the prospect that the “single issue” of Tory success would be repeated across the country in the general election.
But she told BBC Radio 4's World At One that the party leadership wanted Mr Khan to “look at it again”.
“It is very difficult because Sadiq is right that the air quality in London is terrible. And I speak as someone who was diagnosed with asthma earlier this week,” she said.
“I think this is the right policy. I suspect that's how it's done and I hope Sadiq takes another look at it, I know we're asking him to.”
Sir John Hayes, Chairman of the Common Sense Group of Conservative MPs, said Labor's defeat by Ulez had learned lessons for the Tories.
“The Uxbridge result shows that we need to really think about some of our low-emission policies,” he said. “It is obviously unwise and unpopular to punish hard-working families with extreme environmental policies.
“I hope the Mayor of London has learned his lesson and other politicians should take note. Where the interests of the people are compromised by fanaticism, this will not bring votes.
“Sadiq Khan got what he deserved, and we conservatives must be very careful about pursuing policies that do not enjoy the support of the population.”
Ulez The way forward: a few
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