'It's not too late' to stop Ulez expansion, Mark Harper tells Sadiq Khan

Sadiq Khan's plan to expand Ulez has faced a major backlash. Photo: Victoria Jones/PA

Mark Harper told Sadiq Khan it was «not too late» to stop Ulez's expansion as he said it was a «money-raising attempt» by the Labor Party mayor of London.

The Minister transport said if he had the authority to block he would do it, but he has no ability to intervene.

Mr Harper said Mr Khan should «think again» amid concerns about financial implications for Londoners already struggling with the cost of living crisis.

But Mr Khan refused to back down, defending the scheme and arguing that «clean air is a right, not a privilege.»

Pressure on the Mayor of London and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer is mounting to stop the expansion , which came into effect on Tuesday.

Should Sadiq Khan abandon Ulez's new expansion?

From Tuesday midnight, the scheme has been expanded from eight to all 32 London boroughs, with vehicles not meeting certain emission standards subject to a daily fee of £12.50.

3008 ULEZ with Dedicated Roads

Ulez's expansion was seen as a deciding factor in the recent by-elections in Uxbridge and South Ruislip as the Tories defied expectations and held their ground despite voter backlash against the allegation.

Labor's inability to succeed. voters provoked a civil war within the party and demands for a rethink.

During an interview with GB News on Tuesday morning, Mr Harper was asked if he thinks the time for expansion is right given the pressure on finances. many households in the capital.

The Transport Minister said, “No, I don't know. I have no power to prevent this law from coming into force. This is the decision of the mayor of London, supported by the leader of the Labor Party. I think he should think again.

“He says it has to do with air quality, his own impact assessment says it will only have a small or negligible impact on air pollution.

< p>“This is not about air pollution, but about raising money, and now is absolutely not the time to pass all these costs on to struggling and hardworking Londoners and those who live in the London area.”

1507 ULEZ survey

Questioned If he would stop the expansion if he had the authority to do so, Mr. Harper replied: «But yes, I do not have the authority.»

“We have considered this issue very carefully. Despite what some say, including on your channel, I don't have the legal authority to block this.

«This is the decision of the Mayor of London and it's not too late for him to think again.»

Mr Khan dismissed the suggestion that the Ulez expansion was part of a wider war on motorists, as he told Times Radio: “Let me be perfectly clear. Clean air policies in London are not directed against cars or motorists.»

The Mayor of London told BBC Breakfast that he believes clean air is «a right, not a privilege».

The Mayor of London told BBC Breakfast that he thought clean air was «a right, not a privilege.»

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He said: «Now we have a really effective policy to reduce air pollution. Its effectiveness has been proven in central and inner London, but I believe that clean air is a right, not a privilege.

“What about outer London? Why can't they breathe clean air? Why should they continue to die prematurely in numbers that can be reversed?»