'He has no mandate!' Sadiq Khan braced for major blow as MP proposes law to SCRAP Ulez expansion

'He has no mandate!' Sadiq Khan braced for major blow as MP proposes law to SCRAP Ulez expansion
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 04/12/2023

- 10:18

Updated: 04/12/2023

- 12:28

MP Gareth Johnson said the Ulez expansion is an 'unfair stealth tax' which 'hits the poorest the hardest'

Conservative MP Gareth Johnson has announced a new Private Members' Bill which would overturn the Ulez expansion in London.

The extended zone, which covers the whole of outer London, came into force in August.


A spokesperson for Johnson described the expansion as "undemocratic".

He said the Ulez expansion is an "unfair stealth tax" which "hits the poorest the hardest".

WATCH: People's Question Time Audience member hits out at Ulez expansion

Speaking about the bill, which will be presented to Parliament on Wednesday, he said: “I am introducing a bill, which if it is not talked out, will overturn the ULEZ expansion which came into force in August.

"Anyone who drives a car into London that does not meet the emissions rules has to pay £12.50 a day.

"This is an unfair stealth tax on the people of Dartford and across the south east, hitting the poorest the hardest.

"My Private Members' Bill gives Parliament the opportunity to overturn this expansion. The London Mayor, Sadiq Khan has no mandate for this.

"Expanding ULEZ was not in his manifesto or in his transport strategy and the consultation on the expansion showed that people did not want it.

"It impacts people in Kent and other counties around London who cannot vote in or out the London Mayor. It is taxation without accountability.

"It punishes those on lower incomes who can least afford to buy a newer car to avoid the daily charge.

"There are also no guarantees the standard for meeting the ULEZ threshold will not be changed in the future to include more vehicles.

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“My proposed bill is to overturn the ULEZ expansion and ensure the London Mayor cannot impose this unfair tax on the people of Dartford and beyond."

Downing Street did not rule out supporting the ban on the expansion of Ulez in Greater London:

When asked, the PM's spokesperson said: "We will consider the detail once it is introduced."

Defending the scheme at Peoples' Question Time earlier this month, Khan said: "More than half of Londoners with asthma live in outer London. Twenty-four of the 30 GPS with the largest number of asthma patients are all in outer London.

"Nobody put up with dirty water, we shouldn't put up with dirty air."


The Mayor also said he has put in "big changes" to support Londoners with non-compliant cars, including putting more money towards the scrappage scheme.

The scheme provides financial assistance to help eligible London residents scrap vehicles that don't meet the Ulez emissions standards.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor has been clear that the decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide was not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution and protect Londoners’ health.

“Ministers have given funding to numerous UK cities to introduce clean air zones including in Birmingham and Bristol, and the Government is under legal obligations to tackle air pollution. We have received no indication that ministers intend to renege on their commitment to devolution in cities and communities across the country.

“With the help of the Mayor’s £160m scrappage scheme, 95 per cent of all vehicles seen driving in London on an average day now meet clean air standards and do not need to pay the daily ULEZ charge. The Mayor continues to call on the Government to fund a national scrappage scheme which would cover the wider south-east, and has asked elected officials to join him in lobbying the Government for additional financial support.”

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