He said: "It wasn't a decision I took lightly but it's the right one. Mr Khan told Sky News the decision to expand ULEZ to outer London was a "difficult one", but he is not willing to backtrack. The policy was blamed for Labour losing the Uxbridge by-election last month, and in response, the London mayor has today expanded the scrappage scheme - which offers £2,000 grants to owners of non-compliant vehicles - to all Londoners. The expansion of ULEZ means people in outer London boroughs who drive older petrol or diesel cars will have to pay £12.50 each day that they enter the zone. We've just spoken to London mayor Sadiq Khan who has today announced the expansion of the scrappage scheme ahead of the controversial extension of the capital's ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) on 29 August ( read more here). It would be a dereliction of duty not to take action." "I regret that we lost elections in 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019, which means we've had a Tory government that's had its head in the sand when it comes to tackling the climate emergency and tackling air pollution."īut he added: "I'm quite clear, though, that in London we're not going to put our head in the sand. The London mayor said he wants to fight air pollution and climate change but has been forced to do it "with one hand tied behind our back because no support from government".Īsked if he regrets not expanding the scrappage scheme earlier, he replied: "I regret that we've got a government that doesn't seem to care about tackling the climate emergency and air pollution. He said his administration has been "saving lives" and "tackling the climate emergency" without government support. Speaking to reporters, Mr Khan appealed to the government to provide financial support to London to help clean up the city's air - as it has "rightly" done for other cities - so he can "help even more Londoners". The policy was opposed by five Conservative-led councils, and some have argued it will impact low-income Londoners and those who rely on their cars for work.Ī scrappage scheme was opened in January, offering low-income Londoners a £2,000 grant to scrap their car, or to help them buy one that complies with the ULEZ rules - and that was extended to all Londoners today in response to the controversy. When the expansion comes into force, a further 700,000 drivers in London will have to pay the £12.50 levy, according to the RAC - although these figures have been disputed by the mayor's office, which says about 200,000 more drivers will have to pay. However, Imperial later concluded the ULEZ was responsible for "only small improvements in air quality" and that it was not effective enough on its own. The London mayor says the policy is all about cleaning up London's air, and has frequently quoted research from Imperial College estimating between 3,600 and 4,100 premature deaths occur in the capital in part due to poor air quality. Now, Mr Khan is planning to expand it again across all 33 London boroughs. The ULEZ was launched in central London in 2019, and later expanded up to the edge of the North and South Circular roads. It's similar to the congestion charge zone, but covers a bigger area, and means older petrol or diesel cars will have to pay TfL each day that they cross into or move within the zone. The ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ for short) is an area of London in which polluting vehicles have to pay to enter. So what is the controversial policy about? The plan has also been in the news recently since the expansion was blamed for Labour narrowly losing the Uxbridge by-election last month. As we've been reporting in recent weeks, London mayor Sadiq Khan's plan to expand the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) to the capital's outer boroughs has proved rather controversial.įive Conservative-run councils launched legal action back in February over the extension, which is due to come into force on 29 August - but that failed in a ruling last month.
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