Air pollution continues to blight our city and cost lives — toxic air is linked with cancers, circulatory diseases and strokes. And, according to a new survey, four in 10 Londoners are considering moving out of the capital because of it, representing the highest figure in the country.
That is why Sadiq Khan is right to put air quality at the heart of his mayoralty, and why the Evening Standard supports the extension of the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez) to the Greater London boundary, set to come into effect on August 29.
Of course, not everyone agrees. Conservatives in City Hall have campaigned against it, Tory-run local authorities have taken legal action to try and stop it, while central government remains hostile. Yet it is still surprising that London MP Theresa Villiers, a former Cabinet minister, has introduced legislation in Parliament to amend the Greater London Authority Act in order to allow ministers to effectively overturn the Ulez extension.
This is not only an affront to devolution, but a plan to actively keep the capital’s air dirty, with profound consequences. Indeed, toxic air pollution caused by London traffic is leading to nearly 4,000 premature deaths a year, according to City Hall analysis.
We understand the opposition some feel over the Ulez expansion, and share the frustration that the Government and City Hall will not provide more funds for the vehicle scrappage scheme. But ridding our city of toxic air is the task of this generation of political leaders, and cannot be delayed. Because once we can all enjoy clean air, future Londoners will wonder how we ever lived without it.
Sudan escalation risk
It is likely that the final UK evacuation flight from Sudan has taken off. Thus far the airlift — the longest and largest of any western nation in the country — had rescued 2,341 people on 28 flights, according to the Government. Our thanks must go to the armed forces for their efforts.
Now, the world’s focus must not turn away. Sudan already faces a humanitarian crisis, one that threatens to descend into civil war. That is not inevitable, and the international community cannot stand by.
Britain and its allies should work with the UN, the African Union and regional leaders to prevent further escalation. Our responsibility is not over once the final flight has departed. We must not give up on the people of Sudan.
Sir Paul and the NPG
It is 50 days until the National Portrait Gallery reopens its doors for the first time in nearly three years, following its multi-million-pound redevelopment.
To celebrate, Sir Paul McCartney is headlining a new festival, linked to an exhibition of some of his never-before-seen photographs taken in 1963-64, as Beatlemania was starting to conquer the world. The festival begins on June 22 as the gallery reopens — just in time for summer.
