Sadiq Khan blasted for ‘tax grab’ as ULEZ expansion rakes in £715,000 a day
Kay Burley challenges Sadiq Khan over ULEZ expansion
Sadiq Khan’s controversial ULEZ expansion is raking in around £715,000 a day.
A new report by Transport for London (TfL) revealed 57,200 drivers paid the £12.50 daily charge on an average day in the first month after the boundaries were redrawn.
On average 2,696 fines a day are being issued which are £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Tory London mayoral candidate Susan Hall accused her Labour rival of a “tax grab”.
She cited estimates by the Conservatives that the expansion has so far raised £52 million.
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Ms Hall said: “To take over £52 million from hardworking people, with no gain to air quality described anywhere in this report, shows how little he cares for Londoners.
“It is those on the lowest incomes who are suffering most from this disastrous charge. As Mayor, I will scrap the ULEZ expansion on day one.”
Minister for London Paul Scully urged the London Mayor to turn off the ULEZ cameras.
He told the Daily Mail: “Whilst the Mayor rakes in millions of pounds, it’s primarily the people in outer London who can least afford it who are paying.
“Enough is enough. The cameras need to be switched off.”
Mr Khan expanded the ULEZ, which previously covered inner London, to the whole of the capital from August 29 in a bid to boost air quality.
Motorists with vehicles which do not meet the emissions standards must pay a £12.50 daily fee.
Mr Khan said: “I’ve always said that the decision to expand the ULEZ was very difficult, but a month on from the expansion we can already see that it is working.
“London is now home to the world’s largest clean air zone and this new data shows 95 percent of vehicles seen driving in London on an average day now comply with our air quality standards – a 10 percentage point increase since I began to consult on the ULEZ expansion in May 2022.
“This will make a huge difference to the lives and health of Londoners.”
TfL’s director of strategy and policy Christina Calderato said: “It’s great to see that 95 percent of the vehicles driving in the capital comply with the scheme’s transformative air quality standards.
“The ULEZ is highly effective in taking the oldest, most polluting vehicles off the roads.”
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