Sadiq Khan's parity pay plans could be thwarted

Mr. Khan called road user tolling «very interesting»; Credit: Yui Mok/PA

Sadiq Khan's plans to charge per mile to motorists in a future Ulez-style scheme could be scrapped under a new law allowing municipalities to opt out.

Mark Harper, Minister for Transport, wrote to Sir Keir Starmer warning that the government would support an amendment to the Equalization and Rehabilitation Bill that would ensure council members could block «Labor's plan to use air pollution as an excuse» for the allegations. on drivers.

The move comes after London's Labor mayor declared Tuesday a «significant day» when the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) will expand across the capital.

Mr Khan continues to insist that the expansion will «improve air quality» and prevent 4,000 premature deaths from pollution, despite criticism that his claims are based on «erroneous» or «selective» scientific evidence.

p >He is believed to have instructed officials to look into ways to introduce parity payments in the future.

ULEZ expansion plan in London

Earlier this month, Mr Khan called «charging road users» «quite interesting,» explaining that it could help improve air quality «if you charge people for how many miles they drive, how polluting it is.» their car, what time of day they are driving.”

The City Hall insists that there will be no prospect of a mileage charge “for the foreseeable future”, despite what Richard Holden, Minister of Roads, claims that Mr Khan's deputy told him that the Transport for London (TfL) bosses had been asked a question. «to explore the technical aspects of introducing road tolls across London in the future.»

An amendment to the Leveling and Rehabilitation Bill, originally proposed by Lord Moylan, a fellow Conservative, would introduce a new clause that would allow local authorities to «opt out» of TfL's «London Road User Charging Schemes» if the scheme is intended to improve air quality.

The explanatory note to the amendment states that the «new provision» allows London City Councils that meet air quality standards and targets under the Environment Act 1995, or have an approved plan to do so, to opt out of certain road user charging schemes. offered by TfL.

The Ulez expansion and rumors that Mr. Khan is investigating mileage charging have been called a «war on motorists», many of whom are already struggling during the cost of living crisis.

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In his letter to the Labor leader, Mr Harper writes: «I do not have the power to prevent the implementation of the Ulez expansion, you have the right to stop it.»

«Wrong and disputed data»

Craig McKinley, Conservative MP for South Thanet, said Mr Khan continues to «double down the stakes» on «incorrect and contested air quality mortality figures»

“The so-called scientific evidence is no better than extrapolated statistics that are widely discredited,” he said. “I would have great respect for his Ulez position, which is just a new way of levying tax by force of civil enforcement on those who are least able to pay in London and the counties, if he were honest enough to say that this is tax collection to support his failed administration.

“I understand that any future mileage toll scheme the mayor might want to introduce will be vetoed, and rightly so. Motorists are fed up with being treated like villains and ATM machines and I hope suburban Londoners in particular will play a key role in its downfall next year.”

A source close to Mr. Khan, said: «This is staggering hypocrisy on the part of a party that has introduced clean air zones in cities across the country.»

«Sadiq was directly elected by millions of Londoners on the platform of building a greener, fairer and safer London. for everyone — including for cleaning the air in our city. The Tories have no respect for democracy and are playing cheap political games as a distraction from their history of disastrous failures — 13 years of seeing declining living standards and rising prices.»