Starmer backs emission plan across London

SIR KEIR STARMER backed Sadiq Khan’s controversial plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) across London, yesterday.

The Labour leader told LBC he supported the Mayor’s reasons for extending it to all 32 boroughs, less than a week after Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, called it an “unfair tax” on drivers.

The Ulez expansion is set to come in August, with drivers to pay £12.50 a day if their vehicles do not pass emission standards. However, there is pressure on Mr Khan to stop the expansion, with a growing number of councils opposed.

Speaking in Slough, Berkshire, one of the areas where those travelling into London will face the charge, Sir Keir said: “The Mayor has made very clear why he is putting in place and extending the scheme ... and he’s right.

“Of course it’s difficult but he has to take those measures.”

Councils including Liberal Democrat-led Sutton and Tory-led Harrow, Croydon and Bexley have vowed to stop the cameras being installed but could have them mounted against their will.

Transport for London (TFL) has said it will install two thirds of the 2,750 traffic cameras needed to police Ulez on to existing traffic lights, meaning it does not require local authority permission.

To block cameras, rebel councils had said they would refuse to sign the forms to allow TFL to install new cameras. However, this is redundant for cameras being added to existing infrastructure. TFL has said new structures would only be required in a small number of cases.