A Labour split over the expansion of the Ulez scheme in outer London has worsened after Sir Keir Starmer backed the party’s candidate in the Uxbridge by-election who said it should be delayed.
Danny Beales said it was “not the right time to extend Ulez in outer London” in a direct challenge to Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, who is rolling out the policy.
Sir Keir was asked today if he agreed with Mr Beales and he said the party’s candidate was “right” to “stick up” for his would-be constituents.
He said: “Danny Beales is our candidate in Uxbridge, very good candidate too, and he is rightly raising concern on behalf of what he hopes will be his constituents in relation to Ulez because we all understand the impact it has financially.
“I think it is important when we have this discussion to properly recognise the context. There is a legal requirement to deal with air pollution. So it is not just a political choice that is made in the abstract… that is why the first Ulez was introduced by a Tory mayor so for the purposes of the by-election it is being used as a party political tool.
“But actually the legal framing of it is there in legislation which nobody can escape and the first to put a Ulez scheme in place were actually a Tory administration. But Danny Beales is right to say what he has said in sticking up for what he hopes will be his constituents.”
Under Mr Khan’s expansion plans, Ulez will charge around 10 per cent of drivers £12.50 per day to use their cars inside the M25 as part of efforts to improve air quality in the capital.
You can follow the latest updates below.
