Furious anti-ULEZ protesters stage demonstration in Trafalgar Square as they demand Sadiq Khan is ‘sacked’ over controversial expansion plans
Protestors took to the streets of London today, calling for the proposed Ultra Low Emission Zone ‘Khanage’ to be halted.
Hundreds of activists campaigned in Trafalgar Square this morning amid backlash against the plans that will see Londoners paying £12.50 per day for driving polluting cars.
Among the crowds was Piers Corbyn – brother of the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn – who held an information poster reading ‘BREAK Sadiq Khan!’, ‘Can’t pay! Won’t pay!’
Others were armed with signs demanding for the Mayor of London to be sacked, with children also spotted holding posters against the scheme.
The protests come as the city braces itself for the ULEZ to be extended as part of a mission to tackle climate change.
Protestors took to the streets of London calling for the proposed ‘Khanage’ to be halted
In the crowds was Piers Corbyn (pictured) – brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
Some protestors were armed with signs demanding for the Mayor of London to be sacked
Although the scheme has been celebrated by as a way to tackle pollution, it has been slammed for putting even more pressure on those grappling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Council leaders have also voiced their concerns about the Mayor of London’s proposition which is expected to come into force from August.
In January, the Barking and Dagenham borough leader, Darren Rodwell, said that the scheme ‘must take full account of how people will be affected financially’.
He tweeted: ‘As part of the Mayor’s consultation last summer the council raised concerns on behalf of residents and businesses who will be impacted by the expansion of ULEZ.
‘We must take air quality seriously, but any initiatives must take full account of how people will be affected financially and must do as much as possible to mitigate that.’
Barking and Dagenham council is just one of a number of London authorities that have voiced their concerns on the ULEZ expansion.
Bromley council leader Colin Smith said his borough would work alongside Harrow, Bexley, and Hillingdon to ‘examine the legal basis’ of the ULEZ expansion.
Croydon, Sutton, Bromley, Bexley, Havering and Kingston have also expressed a willingness to challenge City Hall over the controversial scheme that will see around 200,000 motorists with older vehicles hit with daily £12.50 charges.
The protests come as the city of London braces itself for the ULEZ to be extended
A van was snapped with ‘Stop ULEZ’ blasted on its bonnet as hundreds of activists campaigned in Trafalgar Square this morning
The ultra-low emission zone is to be expanded in August to cover the whole of Greater London – seen here in purple
Both Sutton and Harrow previously said they will refuse to sign ‘Section 8’ agreements that will allow TfL to install cameras on roads under council control.
Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan has also been accused of piling further misery on Londoners with increased Transport for London costs.
In January, the Mayor revealed proposals to hike Transport for London fares by nearly six percent from March and council tax bills by £38.55 a year to fund more PCSOs.
Passengers will now face paying £2.80 for a zone 1 peak ticket – a rise of 12 per cent – and £2.70 off-peak. Most other single fares will rise by 10p. Bus fares will rise by 10p to £1.75, while a weekly bus and tram pass will hit £24.70 – an increase of £1.40.
Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, Conservative councillor at Harrow Council, slammed the plans and said the Mayor was ‘pricing Londoners out of London’.
