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Sadiq Khan was yesterday accused of \u201cbringing misery and financial pain to many people\u201d by expanding the controversial Ulez charge.<\/p>\n
The Mayor of London has been defending his much-criticised move to expand the daily fee of \u00a312.50 in the capital for older vehicles.<\/p>\n
The Labour politician even claimed he would be on the \u201cright side of history\u201d and accused the Government of \u201cweaponising air pollution\u201d.<\/p>\n
This prompted fury from Tories, who say businesses and lower-paid workers will be hit hardest by the toll. They also warned it could badly affect public services, who may struggle to recruit staff, such as carers, because they cannot afford the daily charge.<\/p>\n
Transport Secretary Mark Harper has urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to make his position on Ulez clear, saying in a letter: \u201cYou have the power to stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg Smith, Tory MP for Buckingham, said: \u201cIf Sadiq Khan thinks he is on the right side of history, I would gently point out to him that I think he is bringing misery and financial pain to many people, not just in his own city but in the counties that surround London as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> Caravan covered in ULEZ protests chained outside Sadiq Khan house<\/strong><\/p>\n Paul Scully, who represents Sutton and Cheam in south London, told the Daily Express: \u201cThe only person weaponising air pollution is the Mayor.<\/p>\n Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, his Ulez expansion will hit small businesses, charities and the lowest paid incredibly hard.<\/p>\n \u201cInstead of targeted action to tackle air quality, he\u2019s leant on scientists to change their research conclusions, skewed his consultation towards people he believed would more likely support him.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first decision that many Londoners will have noticed the Mayor make in seven years of his time in office. \u201cImagine what they\u2019re going to find when they see how he\u2019s been acting on policing, housing and wider \u00adtransport matters.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ulez \u00adexpansion is set to take place \u00adtomorrow, and will take the zone perimeter up to London\u2019s borders with Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n To comply with Ulez standards, petrol cars must generally have been first registered after 2005, while most diesel cars registered after September 2015 are also exempt from the charge.<\/p>\n Some opponents of the Ulez expansion claim the policy is aimed at generating money for TfL and criticised the Mayor for introducing it during the cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n Susan Hall, the Conservative London mayoral candidate, said: \u201cSadiq Khan pretended Ulez expansion was not on the agenda, until it was.<\/p>\n \u201cNow he is doing the same for his plans to charge motorists for every mile they drive, which TfL has openly admitted it is working on. As Mayor, I will stop all \u00addevelopment on Sadiq Khan\u2019s pay per mile scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Khan, right, accused the Government of mock anger over the ultra-low emissions zone, and rebutted some critics\u2019 claims that the plan does not significantly improve the capital\u2019s air quality.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThe thing which frustrates me is if it was the case that the Ulez wasn\u2019t working, I would have abandoned it, because I\u2019m pragmatic. But the Ulez has been shown to reduce toxicity by almost 50 percent in central London.<\/p>\n I am quite clear in relation to the evidence I have seen. The consequences of air pollution are heartbreaking when you have spent time with a bereaved mum.<\/p>\n It\u2019s heartbreaking when you get in an in-patients ward and see the consequences of air pollution.\u201d A Department for Transport spokesman said: \u201cIt is for the Mayor to justify the Ulez expansion. The Mayor is responsible for explaining whether it is fair.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4930310.jpg?r=1693173688704\")
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Khan and Labour deny planning pay-per-mile scheme for drivers after ULEZ[INSIGHT ] <\/strong><\/p>\n