Three London Labour MPs have added to pressure on Sadiq Khan to delay the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone to the Greater London boundary.
The mayor decided last November to widen the Ulez zone on August 29 this year, which he said will result in cleaner air for five million Londoners – but mean about 200,000 more drivers a day will have to pay the £12.50 vehicle emissions levy.
Two Labour backbenchers - Siobhain McDonagh and Jon Cruddas – called on Tuesday for Mr Khan to postpone the expansion due to the cost of living crisis.
A third, shadow business minister, Seema Malhotra, said she was concerned at the “disproportionate” impact on low-income Londoners and small businesses.
This echoes concerns expressed by a number of Conservative, Lib-Dem and Labour outer London boroughs. Four of the Tory-led councils are considering mounting a High Court challenge in a bid to halt the expansion.
Ms McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, told LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: “Of course I want clean air and I completely understand the motivation for the Mayor’s policy.
“What I’m concerned about is how do you get cleaner air and not make it so very hard for so many people who are key workers, carers, nurses, people who care for their parents…
“I would say Sadiq: ‘Please think about this. Please delay it.’”
Mr Cruddas, who will step down as MP for Dagenham and Rainham at the next election, said: “I understand the pressing need to improve air quality and public health, but this scheme will be another unwelcome hit on working people.
“This should have been delayed until we were on the other side of the cost-of-living crisis. Dagenham and Rainham is home to many low-income workers who rely on their personal vehicles. The public transport infrastructure just isn’t there to support this policy. I will continue to challenge this in the strongest possible terms.”
Ms Malhotra, MP for Feltham and Heston, said: “Whilst I share the goal of reducing pollution and increasing air quality to support the health of Londoners, I am very concerned about the economic impact the current roll-out plans will have on residents and small businesses in Feltham and Heston, and its disproportionate effect on lower income families and the self-employed who use their vehicle for work.”
Sources told the Standard that Greater London Labour MPs are scheduling meetings with Mr Khan to discuss the Ulez and ways to limit its impact on poorer drivers.
They will argue behind closed doors for a more generous scrappage scheme than the £110m on offer, and the possibility of excluding low income residents, and some professions, from having to pay the Ulez.
Some Labour insiders fear the Ulez expansion could harm Labour’s chances in constituencies such as Croydon South.
One Labour source said: “It could be a key seat for us if we want to win the next election. Expanding the Ulez is doing us no favours with some of the voters we need to convince.”
Last week Transport for London published a report on the first year of the Ulez expansion to the North and South Circular Roads. This showed there had been a dramatic reduction in the number of non-compliant vehicles.
A spokesman for Mr Khan said: “Sadiq refuses to sit back and do nothing when lives are being lost.”
