Sadiq Khan is looking for new ways to help motorists, but has vowed to continue the Ulez scheme. Photo: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Getty Images Europe. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) after being blamed for Labor's Uxbridge defeat.
One option being considered by the capital's mayor is to offer additional grants to scrap polluting vehicles that would otherwise face a fee if they entered the Ulez area, which is expanding to cover all of Greater London from August 29.
It looks like Mr Khan is in listening mode for new ideas to help people with a £12.50 daily levy for vehicles that otherwise don't meet emissions standards but won't jeopardize the existence of the scheme itself.
A source close to Mr Khan said: “Winning Uxbridge and South Ruislip has always been a struggle for Labour. Labor didn't win the seat for five decades, and Tony Blair didn't even get it in the 1997 landslide.
“This is a disappointing result and Sadik has made it clear that after this by-election he is listening to Londoners. The Mayor is always looking for ways to solve their problems.
“Sadiq has always said that expanding the ulez was a really difficult decision, but necessary to save the lives of young and vulnerable Londoners.”
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Mr Khan's softening position came after he spoke to Sir Keir Starmer on Friday night. The Labor leader began to criticize this scheme more openly.
However, the financial constraints on the already heavily overstretched Mayor of London's budget will be the limiting factor in how generous any support will be.
Ulez's policy was announced by Boris Johnson in 2015, when he was Mayor of London, to improve air quality and combat climate change in the capital.
Typically, diesel vehicles over seven years old or petrol-powered vehicles over 17 years old are hit by Ulez. Failure to pay may result in a £180 fine.
The Ulez area currently faces the north and south ring roads but will cover the outer areas of the capital from 29 August.
London's ULEZ expansion plan
About nine out of 10 cars and eight out of 10 vans passing through London on an average day comply with Ulez rules and will not be affected, according to Transport for London.
Labor's unexpected setback in Thursday's by-elections in Uxbridge and South Ruislip – Johnson's old seat that will itself suffer from expansion – has been blamed on the backlash from Ulez voters.
Sir Keir and Angela Rayner, Labor's deputy leader, have toughened their rhetoric on politics since the Tory defeat in Uxbridge, noting its impact during a cost-of-living crisis.
C Er Keir suggested that he “think about” what the by-election loss says about politics, which fell on the same day as the Tory's two by-election defeats in other parts of the country.
The Labor leadership has carefully articulated its own pledges to combat climate change in the face of potentially lower electricity bills for consumers given soaring prices.
Hints of areas Mr Khan might be interested in when it comes to easing the financial burden of expanding Ulez can be found in the measures he has already taken.
London City Hall announced last month that an additional £110m will be spent on a scrappage scheme that offers grants to people to get rid of polluting vehicles that will be subject to Ulez taxes.
Grants are being offered to scrap cars that do not comply with Ulez, including up to £2,000 for cars and motorcycles. s, £5,000 for vans and £7,000 for vans.
Support is not available to anyone, but as the criteria have recently expanded, all Londoners on child support and London businesses with fewer than 50 employees are eligible.
Meanwhile, there is a potential hurdle to the scheme that needs to be overcome in the form of a judicial review, which will be decided by the High Court by the end of the month .
F Five Conservative-led councils have filed a lawsuit to try to block the expansion, creating a series of technical problems explaining why it cannot be resolved.
High Court ruling expected this week.
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