Data from City Hall, released last week, has revealed that Transport for London (TfL) earned over £8.8 million in fines in just six weeks through the enforcement of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) rules, following the scheme’s expansion to encompass the entire of London.
The expansion, which broadened the ULEZ’s reach to cover all of London back in September, resulted in the issuance of a total of 97,786 fines during its first six weeks of operation. ULEZ fines are levied on drivers operating non-compliant vehicles within the zone without paying the mandated £12.50 daily fee. The standard fine is set at £180, although this is reduced to £90 if the payment is made within a 14-day window.
The revenue generated from these fines, within the timeframe of September 26 to November 6, 2023, has the potential to range between £8.8 million and £17.6 million.
ULEZ Branded ‘A Fraud’
Howard Cox, standing as the London mayoral candidate for Reform UK, told The Epoch Times that he saw ULEZ as a “dishonest money-making fraud,” accusing Mr. Khan of using the scheme to unfairly penalise motorists.Speaking via text he said: “There are no demonstrable improvements to the air we all breathe that he [Mr. Khan] claimed would be the prime benefit, but instead a build-up of huge amounts of cash by fleecing small businesses and low-income drivers.
“ULEZ is a dishonest money-making fraud, pure and simply.”
Reform UK, formerly known as The Brexit Party, is a centre-right political party that has positioned itself as a champion of political and economic reform, often challenging mainstream political narratives under its current leader Richard Tice and former leader Nigel Farage.
“This profligate mayor knows full well ULEZ is about forcing motorists off the roads,” Mr. Cox added, alleging the existence of a secretive “Operation Detroit” that would introduce a per-mile driving charge if Mr. Khan is re-elected.
Khan Denies Pay-Per-Mile Scheme
The scheme was subject to scrutiny back in November by Conservative member of the General London Assembly (GLA), Peter Fortune. Mr. Khan at the time said, “I’ve been crystal clear. A pay-per-mile scheme is not on the table and not on my agenda.“What I said last year, and again in September, is that TfL keeps its schemes under review, that some time in the future, smarter technology might be available to simplify the current schemes.”
However, Conservative members of the GLA claimed that the mayor was not being honest about his “true intentions.” Critics like Mr. Cox still claim that the scheme is in place on Mr. Khan’s agenda.
Susan Hall, the Conservative Party’s candidate for mayor, lambasted the expansion as a “cash grab,” accusing Mr. Khan of exploiting Londoners, particularly the less affluent.
“Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion is nothing but a cash grab, ripping off Londoners and hitting the poorest hardest,” Ms. Hall wrote in an op-ed for GB News Sunday. She vowed to dismantle the scheme if elected, stating, “I will scrap it on day one, no ifs, no buts.”
Ms. Hall also criticised Mr. Khan’s overall leadership, citing economic decline, budgetary deficits, and increasing crime under his tenure.
Conservative Candidate Receives Backlash
However, Ms. Hall has received backlash of her own after a clip of her failing to answer questions on LBC radio about police salaries and standard bus fares went viral on Monday, with nearly 1.5 million views on X.“Her recent performance in an LBC interview shows that the Tories have picked the wrong candidate,” Mr. Cox said, adding, “The Conservatives have been in opposition in the London Assembly for eight years, mostly lead by the parish councillor styled Susan Hall, and have allowed Sadiq Khan to bring London to a virtual standstill, economic decline, let him establish a massive black hole budgetary deficit, ignore public consultation results, exploit false health fatality data, increase crime, make certain streets no-go zones, and prevent affordable housing builds.”
A spokesperson for Mr. Khan defended the ULEZ expansion, emphasising its role in combating air pollution and protecting public health. “Toxic air kills and damages Londoners’ health on a massive scale,” the spokesperson stated, asserting that the ULEZ will eventually operate at a net loss due to increasing compliance.
They pointed out that the revenue generated is reinvested in the city’s transport network and that 95 percent of vehicles now meet the clean air standards. The mayor’s office also highlighted the availability of a scrappage scheme, supported by a £160 million fund, to help Londoners transition to compliant vehicles.
