Boris attacks ‘odious’ Ulez scheme – but Labour takes poll lead in Uxbridge by-election

Unpopularity of charge causing ‘panic in Labour ranks’, claims former PM – despite healthy lead for Starmer’s party

Boris Johnson has attacked London mayor Sadiq Khan’s “odious” ultra-low-emission zone (Ulez) scheme, as Labour suffers a split on the key issue at the Uxbridge by-election.

Sir Keir Starmer has backed Mr Khan’s planned expansion of Ulez to outer London – despite Labour’s Uxbridge candidate Danny Beales speaking out against the Labour mayor’s extension of the scheme.

However, despite Tory efforts to make the 20 July by-election a “referendum” on Ulez, the first poll in the constituency has revealed an eight-point lead for Labour.

Mr Johnson, who sparked the by-election by resigning in fury over the damning Partygate report produced by the privileges committee, has attacked the scheme, describing its £12.50-a-day charge as an “odious, unjustified tax on driving”.

In his latest column for the Daily Mail – dismissed as “total nonsense” by Mr Khan’s camp – the former PM attacked the “bone-headed cruelty” of the charge, which is aimed at lowering emissions and improving air quality.

Mr Johnson claimed Ulez would “blight the lives not just of the classic car enthusiasts” but also of “the white van men who are the red corpuscles in the lifeblood of the economy”.

The former Tory leader said the issue was causing “panic in Labour ranks”, claiming that Mr Beales had “welshed on Khan” and “ratted on official Labour policy” out of desperation.

Claiming his old nemesis Sir Keir had “floundered” in explaining why Mr Khan had to press ahead, Mr Johnson said those supporting the scheme had become “bereft of speech, or reduced to babble”.

The Labour leader told LBC earlier on Friday that Mr Khan “had to take action” because he is legally required to improve London’s air quality. “I accept that the mayor has no choice but to go ahead because of the legal obligation on him,” he told a caller.

Keir Starmer says Sadiq Khan has ‘no choice’ but to expand the scheme (PA Wire)

In November Mr Khan announced his intention to extend Ulez, a scheme originally introduced by Mr Johnson in central London, to all of London’s boroughs, enlarging it beyond the North and South Circular roads.

If the plan goes ahead, the extended Ulez will see drivers in outer London pay a £12.50 daily fee from 29 August if their vehicles do not meet the required emissions standards.

The new borders will extend into Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey. But Conservative-led councils challenged the move in a hearing at the High Court this week and are waiting on Mr Justice Swift’s ruling.

Starmer and Rachel Reeves campaigning with Danny Beales in Uxbridge (PA)

Earlier this week, Labour’s Uxbridge candidate told a by-election debate: “It’s not the right time to extend the Ulez scheme to outer London – it’s just not.”

Mr Beales said he could not support the Ulez expansion until the government and the mayor’s office go “much further” with support for struggling families and a £110m scrappage scheme.

Labour is strongly expected to overturn Mr Johnson’s 7,000 majority at the by-election. But the Ulez issue appears to be causing the party real difficulty in the northwest London suburb.

One MP who has been door-knocking in Uxbridge told Politico: “It was horrible. I’m talking doors-shut-in-your-face level,” adding: “They all hate Sadiq. Just ask any taxi driver.”

However, a new poll by JL Partners will offer comfort to Sir Keir’s team. Mr Beales is on 41 per cent, eight points ahead of Tory rival Steve Tuckwell, who is on 33 per cent.

“As things stand, Labour are set to win Uxbridge,” said James Johnson of JL Partners. But he added that “it is not inconceivable that the Conservatives could narrow the gap in the coming days”.

Responding to Mr Johnson’s column, a source close to Mr Khan told The Independent: “This is utter nonsense from the disgraced former mayor.

“It was Boris Johnson who first announced the introduction of the Ulez to tackle air pollution, and around 4,000 Londoners still die prematurely every year as a result of toxic air.”