Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
View from Westminster email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Keir Starmer has refused to say whether he backs Sadiq Khan's expansion of the London Ulez (Ultra-Low Emission Zone) – after a Labour candidate said it should be halted.
Danny Beales, who is standing for the opposition in this month's Uxbridge by-election, said this week that it was "not the right time" to expand the driving charge for the most polluting vehicles.
The ￡12.50 levy has come up on the doorstep in the outer-London battleground seat, which will vote on 20 July on who should replace Boris Johnson as its MP.
In an interview with the BBC Sir Keir said Mr Khan was bound by the "context" of legal obligations to cut pollution, whilst he said Mr Beales was "fighting for what he hopes will be his constituents".
"Both of those things have to be accommodated," Sir Keir told the broadcaster.
Recommended Keir Starmer speech disrupted by young people demanding climate action Watch moment protesters removed from Keir Starmer’s speech in Kent ‘Vanishingly small’ chance Sunak can cut NHS waiting lists by election, warn experts
Sir Keir had said earlier this year that Mr Khan was "right" to bring in the policy.
But repeatedly asked on Thursday by the BBC whether he agreed with his by-election candidate or Mr Khan's position, the Labour leader declined to say.
"I want the candidate to fight for his, hopefully, constituents. And the mayor obviously has to work within the legal constraints that are imposed on him," Sir Keir said.
When again pushed on what his own view was, Sir Keir said: "I think both of those things have to be accommodated."
Under the Ulez cars that do not meet pollution standards have to pay an additional ￡12.50 daily charge to drive within the north and south circular roads.
UK news in pictures Show all 50
1/ 50UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures 6 July 2023 Queen Camilla during a visit to Lochcarron of Scotland at the Waverley textile mill in Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders, as part of the first Holyrood Week since the King's coronation.
PA
UK news in pictures 5 July 2023 Anti-monarchy protesters hold placards near the St Giles’ Cathedral on the day of the National Service of Dedication and Thanksgiving for Britain’s King Charles, in Edinburgh
Reuters
UK news in pictures 4 July 2023 Andy Murray celebrates break point against Ryan Peniston in their men’s singles first round match at Wimbledon
Getty
UK news in pictures 3 July 2023 A cigar smoked by Winston Churchill, which is expected to fetch ￡600-800 is pictured on his statue in Westerham, Kent
PA
UK news in pictures 2 July 2023 England’s Ben Stokes hits a six off the bowling of Australia’s Josh Hazlewood during the last day of the second Ashes test at Lords Cricket Ground in London
Action Images via Reuters
UK news in pictures 1 July 2023 Pata Yamaha Prometeon rider Toprak Razgatiloglu followed by Aruba.It Racing - Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista (right) during the World SBK race 1 on day two of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023 at Donington Park, Derby
PA
UK news in pictures 30 June 2023 Rembrandt Harmensz’s Portrait of Jan Willemsz, van der Pluym and Jaapgen Carels is held by gallery staff, during a photo call for highlights from the forthcoming Classic Week Sales, at Christie’s, London.
PA
UK news in pictures 29 June 2023 A visitor walks through a part of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s installation “You, Me and The Balloons” during a preview ahead of the start of the Manchester International Festival
Reuters
UK news in pictures 28 June 2023 England player Jonny Bairstow carries a “Just Stop Oil” pitch invader during day one of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground
Getty
UK news in pictures 27 June 2023 A Dolly Parton impersonator banned from Facebook protests outside the offices of parent company Meta in King’s Cross, London, as part of their “Stop Banning Us” appeal
Lucy North/PA
UK news in pictures 26 June 2023 Glastonbury site clean-up operation in progress
PA
UK news in pictures 25 June 2023 Lil Nas X performs on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury
AFP via Getty
UK news in pictures 24 June 2023 Chemical Brothers perform beneath the Arcadia spider in the very early morning at the Glastonbury Festival
PA
UK news in pictures 23 June 2023 A performer entertains festivalgoers in the circus field at Glastonbury festival
AFP/Getty
UK news in pictures 22 June 2023 Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Racecourse
AP
UK news in pictures 21 June 2023 Katherine Jenkinson from Carlisle with her jersey calf in the wash bay at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh, ahead of the Royal Highland Show
PA
UK news in pictures 20 June 2023 The sunrises at 04.25am at St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, on the North East coast of England, the day before Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year
PA
UK news in pictures 19 June 2023 The King and Queen depart the annual Order of the Garter Service
PA
UK news in pictures 17 June 2023 Typhoon fighter jets fly over The Mall after the Royal family attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, as King Charles III celebrates his first official birthday since becoming sovereign.
PA
UK news in pictures 16 June 2023 A peregrine falcon nesting at Malham Cove, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
PA
UK news in pictures 15 June 2023 Newborn alpaca Sir Steveo, who has been named after one of his keepers, ventures outside in the Pets Farm area of Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling
PA
UK news in pictures 14 June 2023 Grace Kumar’s father and Barnaby Webber’s brother, Charlie, embrace ahead of a vigil at the University of Nottingham after they and Ian Coates were killed and another three hurt in connected attacks on 13 June
PA
UK news in pictures 13 June 2023 Police forensics officers on Ilkeston Road
PA
UK news in pictures 12 June 2023 People relax in a suspended swimming pool as hot weather continues, in London
Reuters
UK news in pictures 11 June 2023 Usain Bolt and teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning Soccer Aid 2023
Action Images via Reuters
UK news in pictures 10 June 2023 A cyclist trains in the early morning, as hot weather continues, in Richmond Park, London
Reuters
UK news in pictures 9 June 2023 A performer walks on a tightrope at Covent Garden during a sunny day in London
AP
UK news in pictures 8 June 2023 A women rides her horse through the river during the Appleby Horse Fair
PA
UK news in pictures 7 June 2023 The Princess of Wales during a game of walking rugby during her visit to meet local and national male rugby players at Maidenhead Rugby Club
PA
UK news in pictures 6 June 2023 An aerial view shows the dry bed of Woodhead Reservoir, revealed by a falling water level after a prolonged period of dry weather, near Glossop, northern England
AFP/Getty
UK news in pictures 5 June 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak onboard Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover
PA
UK news in pictures 4 June 2023 A hot air balloon rises into the sky above Ragley Hall, Alcester, south of Birmingham in central England
AFP via Getty Images
UK news in pictures 2 June 2023 Skaters use the mini ramp at the Wavelength Spring Classic festival in Woolacombe Bay in Devon
PA
UK news in pictures 1 June 2023 The And Beyond installation, during a photo call for the London Design Biennale at Somerset House in London
PA
UK news in pictures 31 May 2023 Emergency services attending to a blaze at a derelict listed building in Samuel Street, Belfast
PA
UK news in pictures 30 May 2023 A robot named Stella interacts with visitors during the International Conference on Robotics and Automation ICRA in London
AP
UK news in pictures 29 May 2023 Dave Hackett and his daughter Daisy, five, explore the laburnum arch in the grounds of Preston Tower, East Lothian, in the warm Spring Bank Holiday weather
PA
UK news in pictures 28 May 2023 Great Britain’s Nick Bandurak scores their side’s third goal of the game during the FIH Hockey Pro League men’s match at Lee Valley, London
PA
UK news in pictures 27 May 2023 People enjoy the sunny weather at a park in London
AP
UK news in pictures 26 May 2023 People drink coffee inside Daleks during MCM Comic Con at the ExCel London in east London
PA
UK news in pictures 25 May 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a visit to Enniskillen Castle, Co Fermanagh as part of a two day visit to Northern Ireland
PA
UK news in pictures 24 May 2023 Horses enjoy the sunny weather on Middleham Gallops in North Yorkshire
PA
UK news in pictures 23 May 2023 An aerial view of a yellow rapeseed field in Hemel Hempstead, Britain
Reuters
UK news in pictures 22 May 2023 Manoj Malde and Clive Gillmor kiss after getting married, the first wedding ever at the Chelsea Flower Show
AP
UK news in pictures 21 May 2023 People enjoy the warm weather as they take punt tours along the River Cam in Cambridge
PA
UK news in pictures 20 May 2023 Protesters emerge from the sea as Surfers Against Sewage hold a UK-wide paddle-out protest at Brighton West Pier in East Sussex
PA
UK news in pictures 19 May 2023 Good Karma ridden by Daniel Muscutt (right) wins the Earl & The Pharaoh Novice Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire
PA
UK news in pictures 18 May 2023 Choristers from the Choir of St John’s College at the University of Cambridge look out from the top of the Chapel Tower before performing the Ascension Day carol - a custom dating back to 1902.
PA
UK news in pictures 17 May 2023 Oxfam activists wearing 'big heads' of G7 leaders during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, highlighting their lack of action to tackle the East Africa hunger crisis ahead of the start of the G7 summit in Japan
PA
UK news in pictures 16 May 2023 Part of a child’s jacket during a photo call for the China’s hidden century exhibition, which opens at the British Museum
PA
But under Mr Khan's expansion plans, from 29 August the charge will be expanded to the whole of Greater London.
Polling conducted by YouGov last year found that 51 per cent of Londoners supported the expansion of the clean air zone compared to 27 per cent who do not.
But the policy is thought to be less popular in outer London – where the Uxbridge seat is located.
Recommended Labour candidate speaks out against Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion Sue Gray broke rules by talking to Keir Starmer, government finds Labour divided over tactical voting to block Tories at by-elections
The episode comes after the Labour leader was accosted by angry students on Thursday urging him to commit to more climate action and stop making "U-turns".
The protesters, college students in Kent, wanted Sir Keir to reinstate a scaled-back plan to invest ￡28 billion a year in a Green New Deal.
More about keir starmer Sadiq Khan ULEZ Labour
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
1/ 1Keir Starmer refuses to say whether he backs Sadiq Khan ULEZ expansion
Keir Starmer refuses to say whether he backs Sadiq Khan ULEZ expansion
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
PA Wire
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in