Susan Hall tackles Sadiq Khan over ULEZ expansion
Sadiq Khan is pressing ahead with his expansion of London's ultra-low emission zone despite a Labour backlash.
The London Mayor's hated policy has been widely blamed for Labour's failure to take Boris Johnson's former seat in last week's by-election, including by Sir Keir Starmer.
It is understood Mr Khan is still committed to expanding the ￡12.50 daily charge for the most polluting vehicles to outer London from next month in a bid to improve air quality.
But he is said to be open to ideas to mitigate the financial impact on Londoners.
Susan Hall, the Tory London mayoral candidate, told the Express: “Sadiq Khan has proven time and time again that he does not care about Londoners.
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Sir Keir Starmer blamed Labour's narrow defeat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip on the ULEZ expansion (Image: GETTY)
READ MORE: Angela Rayner has revealed Labour's plot to roll out hated ULEZ scheme across UK
"His ULEZ expansion would be a disaster for the poorest and he knows it.
"On day one of my Mayoralty, I will scrap the ULEZ expansion and take serious action to reduce air pollution without taxing people.”
Sir Keir blamed Labour's narrow defeat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in last Thursday's vote on the ULEZ expansion.
Speaking during a visit to Shefford in Bedfordshire on Saturday, he said: "I don't think there is any doubt that ULEZ was the reason that we lost the election in Uxbridge.
"And I have said we should reflect on this, including the Mayor. I have spoken to him as you would expect, and so there will be that reflection."
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Earlier on Saturday, Sir Keir told Labour's national policy forum in Nottingham that there was "something very wrong" when a party policy was on "each and every Tory leaflet".
He said: "That result in Uxbridge demonstrates there is never any reason to be complacent and never a reason to rest on our laurels. It is a reminder that in an election, policy matters.
"We are doing something very wrong if policies put forward by the Labour Party end up on each and every Tory leaflet. We've got to face up to that and learn the lesson."
Danny Beales, Labour's candidate in Uxbridge, told the conference that "a single policy cut us off at the knees" and "acted as a dead-weight" when canvassing for votes.
He had called for the ULEZ expansion to every London borough to be delayed during the campaign.
Meanwhile, new Tory MP Steve Tuckwell admitted his victory in the by-election was thanks to the ULEZ row.
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A source close to the Labour Mayor said winning the West London constituency "was always going to be a struggle", pointing out that Sir Tony Blair did not turn it over during his 1997 landslide.
They added: "It is a disappointing result and Sadiq has been clear he is listening to Londoners following this by-election.
"Sadiq has always said that expanding the ULEZ was a really difficult decision, but necessary to save the lives of young and vulnerable Londoners."
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