Pay-as-you drive charges being considered by Labour’s Sadiq Khan face being blocked
PAY-as-you-drive charges being considered by Labour’s Sadiq Khan face being blocked under government proposals.
Ministers will change the law over fears road charging could hit drivers further on the eve of the costly ultra-low emission zone expansion.
The intervention comes after MPs were told last month that officials in London were working on the ‘technicalities’ of bringing in road charging in the future.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “It has been suggested that Labour plan to bring in pay-per-mile charging for every car in London.
“This amendment would ensure that couldn’t happen without local council consent.”
The amendment to legislation going through Parliament will bring London in line with other mayoral authorities.
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Mr Harper also launched an attack on the Labour leader over the Ulez scheme which will cost drivers £12.50 if their vehicle doesn’t meet emissions standards.
He also suggests that Sir Keir could put pressure on Mr Khan to make a last-minute u-turn to stop the extension of the Ulez zone.
He cited the mayor’s own impact assessment about the “minor to negligible” impact on air pollution and how the extension will hit the poorest financially.
He said: “However, you have decided not to act. That’s why I am calling on you to support the plan set out above, and impress on your Labour colleague Sadiq Khan it is not too late for him to change course.”
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A spokesperson for the Mayor of London has previously said a future option could be to abolish existing charges and replace it with a simpler road charging scheme but added the technology is many years away.
A Labour spokesman said: “This is desperate stuff from the Tories.”
London mayor Mr Khan’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone extension was dealt a blow last night as one of Labour’s biggest backers, the GMB union, said it should be axed