Ulez expansion sparks fresh fury as Sadiq Khan's own research admits 'life expectancy to increase by just 13 minutes'

It predicts that there will be just 1.3 per cent reduction in the average Londoner's exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

The data also concluded that the scheme will add just 13 minutes to the life expectancy of a Londoner in 2023.

According to the mayor’s office, the programme is expected to save 214 “life years” in 2023, but spread across London's population of 8.8 million, expanding ULEZ to outer London could add just 0.0089 days – equal to 13 minutes.

But Khan insists the policy is critical to improving air quality.

A spokesperson for the Mayor said: “The science is clear - the impact of the ULEZ expansion will be transformative.

"It will benefit the thousands of Londoners with asthma who live in the outer boroughs and who are more vulnerable to the impacts of toxic air."

The £12.50 daily levy has been expanded to a wider area of London for those driving older, more polluting vehicles.

It comes as criminals, dubbed Blade Runners, have begun stealing and defacing the spy cameras which are central to the charging scheme.

Of the 1,762 cameras, at least 450 have so far been disabled.

Pressure is piling on Rishi Sunak to “seize the moment” and fight against Ulez as senior Tories call on the Prime Minister to challenge net zero environmental charges.

A survey carried out by pollsters Redfield & Wilton Strategies revealed that just 26 per cent of people living outside London would support or strongly support a Ulez-style scheme in their town or city.

Voters oppose the anti-car measure coming to their area by almost two to one, while one in three say they would be less likely to back politicians who brought in the charge.

A total of 47 per cent of people would oppose or strongly oppose it.

While just 28 per cent backed the recent roll-out to the outer London boroughs, and 43 per cent were against it.