Keir Starmer flounders on ULEZ as he says Sadiq Khan has ‘no choice’ about the hated expansion – but admits it will cause ‘pain’ and insists Labour’s Uxbridge by-election candidate is RIGHT to oppose the plan
Keir Starmer floundered on ULEZ today as he claimed Sadiq Khan has ‘no choice’ about the controversial expansion.
However, the Labour leader admitted the move will cause ‘pain’ – and backed his Uxbridge by-election candidate Danny Beales speaking out against it.
The desperate attempt to sit on the fence came as he was grilled on the issue during an LBC phone-in.
Labour is nervous that anger over ULEZ could derail its hopes of seizing Boris Johnson‘s old seat from the Tories on July 20 – although a poll today suggested the party is on track for victory.
Quizzed by an LBC listener, Sir Keir said: ‘I accept that the mayor has no choice but to go ahead because of the legal obligation on him.
‘I think Danny is right to stick up for his constituents.
‘I understand the pain it is going to inflict.’
Pressed on whether he supported the call from Labour MPs to delay the rollout, Sir Keir replied: ‘My experience of the mayor is he always listens to these overtures and that is why he has asked for more money on scrappage.
‘I’ve looked at it myself, looked at the legal provision. I think it is difficult to say you could simply ignore the legal requirement to do something about this so the mayor in fairness is between a rock and a hard place on this.’
Keir Starmer (left) said Danny Beales was ‘right’ to raise concerns about the controversial expansion of the charging area being pushed by Sadiq Khan (right)
The ULEZ charging area is due to be dramatically expanded from August
Earlier this week Labour by-election candidate Danny Beales directly attacked the decision by mayor Sadiq Khan to roll out the daily £12.50 levy on the worst polluting vehicles in August, saying it would hammer hard-pressed families
Tensions have been running high between London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour MPs over the ULEZ expansion.
Earlier this week Mr Beales used a hustings event to perform a U-turn and attack the extension of the £12.50-a-day levy on the worst polluting vehicles from August.
The charity worker, 34, said: ‘It’s not the right time to extend the ULEZ scheme in outer London, it’s just not.’
Sir Keir has pointed out that the original ULEZ in central London was put forward when Boris Johnson was mayor, stressing that there is a legal obligation to ensure air quality.
‘I think it is important when we have this discussion to properly recognise the context. There is a legal requirement to deal with air pollution,’ Sir Keir said after a speech in Kent yesterday.
‘So it’s not just a political choice that is made in the abstract.’
Mr Beales previously signalled he supported the expansion, suggesting those unable to afford it should blame the Tory government for tanking the economy.
He has also spent the past nine years as a councillor in Labour-run Camden, during which time it demanded ULEZ ‘be expanded London-wide’.
The Tory candidate in the seat, local councillor Steve Tuckwell, said: ‘It’s a fact that Danny Beales has backed ULEZ expansion to our borough for years from the comfort of his central London Council chamber.
‘Now it’s losing him support on the doorstep, so he’s trying to trick people into thinking he wants it delayed. Local people don’t want a delay, they want it scrapped. Full stop.’
