Farmers have rallied to join the growing protests against Sadiq Khan’s expansion of Ulez.
The controversial scheme will force Londoners to pay a whopping £12.50 a day to drive in the capital from August 29 if their cars fail to meet certain environmental standards.
Tractors paraded through the streets of Orpington today as locals criticized the Labor mayor of London’s extreme plan, which tries to make the air cleaner.
Khan has faced harsh criticism recently for branding some opponents of Ulez as ‘far right’ and ‘Covid deniers’.
Footage from Saturday showed protesters wearing high visibility ‘Khanage’ jackets as they handed out flyers during the parade.
Farmers on tractors in Orpington, south-east London, paraded through the streets today (pictured) as they joined growing protests against Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion.
Footage from Saturday showed protesters wearing high-visibility ‘Khanage’ jackets as they handed out flyers during the parade.
The controversial scheme will force Londoners to pay a whopping £12.50 a day to drive in the capital from August 29 if their cars fail to meet certain environmental standards.
Orpington MP Gareth Bacon said he would “do everything in his power” to prevent Khan’s Ulez charge from reaching Orpington.
He said: ‘The mayor is not only taxing people who don’t vote for him, but he will also end up impoverishing the poor and punishing those on lower incomes who can least afford to buy a new car to avoid the daily charge.
It will punish individuals, small businesses and charities who cannot afford a new vehicle to raise money for Sadiq Khan’s failed administration.
“Imposing inner-city driving measures on the outskirts of London will do far more harm than good, especially when people are already feeling the pinch due to inflation and global supply issues.”
Tractors paraded through the streets of Orpington today as locals gathered to criticize the Labor mayor of London’s extreme plan to make the air cleaner.
Stephen Sangster, president of the Knoll Residents’ Association in Orpington, told MailOnline: “We are passionate about improving air quality in Orpington, but this measure is targeting the wrong people and, to a large extent, the wrong vehicles.”
He added: “You see a lot of big 4X4s in this area that are ULEZ compliant, but those driving smaller but older vehicles will have to pay.”
Stephen Sangster, president of the Knoll Residents’ Association in Orpington, told MailOnline: “We are passionate about improving air quality in Orpington, but this measure is targeting the wrong people and, to a large extent, the wrong vehicles.”
‘The daily charge of £12.50 will hit those who can least afford it.
“You see a lot of ULEZ compliant big 4X4s in this area, but those who drive smaller but older vehicles will have to pay.
‘My neighbor has to buy a newer car because of this change and it is more polluting than the non-ULEZ version they are replacing!
“That’s before you even think about all the energy and pollution it takes to make a car.
‘For me, the worst of all this is the contempt for local democracy.
London’s Labor mayor Sadiq Khan has faced harsh criticism recently for branding some Ulez opponents ‘far right’ and ‘Covid deniers’
A Labor council has been accused of hypocrisy after endorsing Sadiq Khan’s controversial expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), and later called for an exemption for his own 400 vehicles.
‘At the consultation it became clear that the vast majority of residents did not want Ulez to expand into Orpington.
But this was ignored. We have lots of ideas on how to improve local air quality, but we’re not sure the mayor is listening. I fear this change will go ahead regardless of local sentiment.’
Last month, the Labor mayor begged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to spend £110m to prop up his controversial ULEZ scheme.
London’s Labor mayor has already made hundreds of millions in his hated ultra-low emission zone, as revenue has risen from £77m to £226m in the past two years.
The government criticized Khan’s demands for more money, saying it was up to him to “justify his decision to expand the Ulez” and make sure it “isn’t just a tax for the poorest motorists.”
A government spokesperson said: “We have provided TfL with £6bn in funding to keep public transport moving, as well as £2bn for vehicle and infrastructure grants to support the rollout of clean vehicles across the country.”
The government spokesman added: “More specifically, London has received nearly £102m of government funding for projects specifically aimed at helping to combat pollution.”
He added: “Decisions on how to allocate funds to best meet the city’s transport priorities are the responsibility of the Mayor of London.”
Khan’s Ultra Low Emission Zones have already secured over £200m in fines from hundreds of thousands of Londoners.
For diesel cars and vans to avoid the ULEZ charge, they generally must have been registered as of September 2015.
Meanwhile, most gasoline models registered after 2005 are exempt.
London’s scrapping scheme for non-emissions vehicles includes payments of up to £2,000 for eligible drivers, such as those with a low income or the disabled who scrap a car.
Up to £9,500 is awarded for charities, sole traders and small businesses who scrap or retrofit their vans or minibuses.
Residents of the home counties are not eligible for the initiative.
