Local residents voted for me to stop Sadiq Khan's money grab. It's something I have made clear from day one, that I will continue to do all I can to reverse this charge both outside of Parliament, through working with Conservative Mayoral candidate Susan Hall, and inside Parliament where possible.
That's why, as your local Member of Parliament, I am continuing to fight against Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion, and as such I'm proud to sponsor Gareth Johnson MP's Greater London Low Emission Zone Charging (Amendment) Bill in Parliament tomorrow on the 6th of December 2023.
I am sponsoring this Bill because Sadiq Khan's expansion of ULEZ is completely undemocratic, and he continues to ignores not just my constituents but residents across all of outer London. This is something that I heard on the doorsteps when campaigning during the by election, and it is something I still hear today.
If the Bill passes, it will overturn the ULEZ expansion which came into force in August. Anyone who drives a car into London, that does not meet the emission rules, has to pay £12.50 a day. This is an unfair stealth tax on the people of Uxbridge and South Ruislip and across London, hitting the poorest the hardest.
Expanding ULEZ was not in Sadiq Khan's manifesto or in his transport strategy and the consultation on the expansion showed that people did not want it. It punishes those on lower incomes who cannot afford to buy a newer car to avoid this daily charge. I have been clear from the start, this is exactly what ULEZ expansion is - a money grab. This is not about the environment. This has never been about the environment. Conservative MPs, Assembly Members and Councillors have been clear that there are much more beneficial ways to protect and enhance our natural environment; instead of punishing those least well off in society.
Instead of punishing those people who can't afford to live a green lifestyle, the Mayor should be doing more to help them afford one. Whether that's through a better scrappage scheme, greener buses or electric taxis.
I am the local voice for Uxbridge and South Ruislip and I stand by my constituents on our shared view that we cannot have this unfair tax imposed on us by Sadiq Khan.
