Sadiq Khan accuses authorities of ‘weaponising air air pollution’forward of London ULEZ enlargement

Sadiq Khan has accused the federal government of “weaponising air pollution” forward of the enlargement of London’s ultra-low emission zone subsequent week.

The mayor mentioned he was “disappointed” by the shortage of presidency help for the coverage and its accompanying scrappage scheme.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has urged Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer to make his place on ULEZ “clear”, saying in a letter: “You have the power to stop it.”

Read extra: Where the expanded Greater London ULEZ zone will cover

Mr Harper instructed “Labour plan to use air pollution to attempt to justify bringing in pay per mile charging for every car in London”.

This has been denied by City Hall and referred to as “complete nonsense”.

Mr Khan mentioned: “It was this authorities that gave monetary help to cities like Bristol, Birmingham and Portsmouth in the direction of their clear air zones. If clear air is correct for them then why is not clear air proper for London?

“Why has the government given no support to London? I am disappointed at the lack of support from the government.

“I’m upset that they appear to be weaponising air air pollution and local weather change.”

The ULEZ enlargement is ready to happen on Tuesday, and can take the zone as much as London’s borders with Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.

Those who drive within the newly expanded zone in a car that doesn’t meet minimal emissions requirements might want to pay £12.50 a day charge or danger a £180 nice, decreased to £90 if paid inside 14 days.

A £160m scheme run by Transport for London has supplied grants of as much as £2,000 to all Londoners who want to scrap any automotive or bike that’s non-compliant with the zone’s emissions requirements.

Read extra:
Nadine Dorries sends resignation letter to Rishi Sunak
Whole-life sentences will become ‘default’ for sexually motivated or sadistic murders

In response to Mr Khan, the federal government pressured that transport and air high quality selections are “devolved to London”.

A spokesperson added: “The government has provided TfL £6bn since 2020 to keep public transport moving and almost £102m for projects specifically targeted to help tackle air pollution.”

The enlargement of ULEZ has been a controversial matter for months, with Labour blaming the scheme for its loss on the Uxbridge by-election in July.

‘I invite you to make your place clear’

This was talked about by the transport secretary in his letter to Sir Keir. He mentioned: “Your position on ULEZ has changed frequently. In January, you said the mayor was ‘right’ to extend ULEZ.

“Following the Uxbridge by-election you requested the mayor to ‘replicate’ on the difficulty, which he confirmed no signal of doing. Last week, you mentioned the choice to increase ULEZ will ‘disproportionately’ hit folks scuffling with the price of dwelling.

“You have also let it be known that you would not favour the expansion of similar schemes in cities outside of London.

“And but Labour’s mayor remains to be increasing ULEZ. I invite you to make your place clear.”

Mr Harper went on to tell Sir Keir that while he does not have the “authorized energy to forestall the ULEZ enlargement being launched, you do have the facility to cease it”.

Sky News has contacted the Labour Party for a response.