Sadiq Khan ‘simply let slip Labour’s secret plot to roll out ULEZ throughout UK’

Sadiq Khan has been accused of letting slip Labour’s secret plans to roll out ULEZ throughout Britain if the occasion involves energy subsequent 12 months.

The London Mayor mentioned on Friday that authorities within the Home Counties ought to arrange their very own ULEZ schemes including to the enlargement he has overseen for the entire of London. The £12.50-a-day driver tax comes into pressure for all areas of the capital from August 29.

Mayor Khan defeated the Tory-run London boroughs of Bromley, Bexley, Harrow and Hillingdon, in addition to Surrey County Council, on the High Court final month of their bid to cease ULEZ enlargement.

Despite victory within the courts, Labour suffered within the polls with the occasion failing to beat the Conservatives within the by-election in Boris Johnson’s former seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

But a triumphant Mr Khan proclaimed that councils outdoors of his grip on London ought to begin their very own ULEZ schemes to deal with the TfL levy.

The BBC reports that he was upset councils spent cash “wasted on court fees and lawyers” to oppose him once they might have directed the funds in direction of ULEZ schemes.

He added: “What I’d say to those county councils outside London is two things – one is, you should be supporting your residents like Merton Council and others have been doing.

“But secondly – the federal government is your authorities, they’re out of your occasion. Why do not you be a part of me on a cross-party foundation to foyer this authorities [for more scrappage funding]?”

Large numbers of people who live outside of London are facing ULEZ charges to commute into the city for work, health appointments, and pleasure.

Labour-run Merton became the first authority close to London, but outside of Mr Khan’s control, to start its own scrappage scheme for non-compliant vehicles.

In London alone, the RAC says there are some 690,000 motors which will be subject to the daily tax from the end of the month. But according to the Conservatives, this figure for the Home Counties rises to a massive 1.2 million.

Susan Hall the Conservative Mayoral candidate hoping to dethrone Mr Khan in the 2024 elections said Labour was “determined” to punish poorer families.

She told Express.co.uk: “Next 12 months’s elections are so essential as a result of Labour will not cease with Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ enlargement.

“Angela Rayner has admitted they need to see ULEZ schemes throughout the nation, and Sadiq Khan is demanding councils outdoors London pay for the cost-of-living impression of his personal tax.

“Labour are decided to punish poorer households who depend on their vehicles. It is significant that we cease them on the poll field in 2024.”

Last month, Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner told Sky News “[ULEZ] is coming to towns and cities across the UK”.

Her comments came despite leader Sir Keir Starmer being yet to publicly endorse the expansion, amid fears of a voter backlash like that seen in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Howard Cox, founder of FairFuel UK and Reform UK candidate for London Mayor, said Mr Khan had an “almost religious belief, ULEZs should be rolled out further past the M25”.

He told Express.co.uk: “Labour MPs can’t hide either from the fact they hate drivers just as much as the capital’s dishonest Mayor too.

“It’s clear from all pronouncements emanating from the opposition front bench, a ULEZ will be coming to a city near you if Sir Keir Starmer gets the keys to Number 10.”

Mr Khan on Friday announced that every Londoner with a polluting car will now be eligible for a grant of up to £2,000 to switch to a greener model, while small businesses can get £21,000 to junk up to three vans.

It comes after Sir Keir asked him to reflect on how the extension was being carried out following the Uxbridge result.

Asked whether the Labour mayor and the party’s national leader are now in agreement on the issue, Mr Khan declined to answer, instead lauding the widening of the scrappage scheme.

Conservative Health Minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News the financial support has “touched the edges of individuals’s considerations” and that “£2,000 is nothing in the event you’re having to exchange your automobile”.

But Mr Khan insisted there are plenty of second-hand ULEZ-compliant vehicles that can be purchased for less than £2,000. He said nine out of 10 cars seen driving on an average day in outer London are compliant, so the vast majority of Londoners “will not pay a penny extra”.

But figures obtained by the RAC present greater than 690,000 licensed vehicles in the entire of London are more likely to be non-compliant.

A petition opposing the deliberate ULEZ enlargement has reached greater than 250,000 signatures on the time of writing.

The Labour Party was contacted for remark.