Sadiq Khan's refusal to send scrapped Ulez vehicles to Ukraine is a glaring example of just how out of touch he is with London’s values.
It's a decision that screams of a Mayor more concerned with taking cash from the poorest than with saving Ukrainian lives. And once again, it shows just how self-centred and uncaring he can be.
Here we have a situation where vehicles set to be dumped on a scrap heap could be donated to help in Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion.
Sadiq Khan said no, and now that he has been caught out, he is hiding behind the flimsiest of legal excuses. Thousands of cars have now been unnecessarily destroyed because of his failure.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan
PA
It has been months since Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko first reached out to Sadiq Khan, asking if these scrapped vehicles could be sent to Ukraine.
These cars and vans are capable of serving as makeshift ambulances, transport for supplies, or support vehicles for those bravely fighting on the front lines.
But Khan, in a display of astonishing shortsightedness, would not even consider it.
First, one of his officials told a newspaper that it would be too complicated to update the application process and IT systems – in other words, computer says no.
Then, his excuse was the GLA Act only gives him the powers to act in ways that benefit Londoners, socially, economically, or environmentally.
He seems to believe helping one of our European neighbours defend itself against a military invasion doesn’t benefit Londoners. It was a flimsy attempt at a legal argument, which he seems to have already given up on.
Now he is blaming Government regulations over the certificate of destruction, a document you are required to provide TfL to prove your vehicle has been destroyed in exchange for the scrappage scheme money.
Once again, it is a dodgy legal argument that simply doesn’t stack up. And to the extent that it is an issue, it could have been quickly solved months ago if Sadiq Khan had bothered to raise it with officials.
The truth is Sadiq Khan was so obsessed with making as much money off his unfair Ulez expansion as possible, he did not bother to see the bigger picture.
When he was caught, he resorted to his usual tactic of blaming the government for his own failures. He is lacking not just in empathy, but imagination.
And it is more than just this missed opportunity. London is being let down by a Mayor who seems more interested in becoming a celebrity than in helping others. We see it every single day, from his weak leadership on crime to his failures on housebuilding
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It’s a stark reminder that London deserves so much better next year.
Londoners need a Mayor who understands that leadership is not about the perks of the job, but the responsibility to serve others and represent London’s values. We deserve no less.
Susan Hall is the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London
Responding to Hall's article, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “As experts such as former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace have made clear, we need action from ministers for plans to progress.
“Sadiq is calling on the Government to temporarily alter the national regulations for the Certificate of Destruction, which is required as proof that a vehicle has been permanently scrapped, to enable the export of suitable vehicles to the Ukraine via a registered charity or national scheme.
“Officials are now working with ministers to overcome these legal hurdles and enable Londoners to receive money for taking suitable polluting vehicles off London's streets while helping the people of Ukraine."
