Cleaning up London’s air: the ULEZ (Ultra-Low Emissions Zone) will affect fewer than one in 10 cars but may deliver a remarkable improvement in air quality.
The High Court has delivered a timely message of support for measures to defeat global warming – by supporting London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s bid to extend the ULEZ (Ultra-Low Emissions Zone) to all of the capital’s boroughs.
Five Conservative-led borough councils had launched a legal battle to stop the extension but in what’s being described as a “landmark” ruling, Lord Justice Swift said he was “satisified” that the proposals were in the London Mayor’s “powers”.
The measure currently covers only areas within the North and South Circular Roads, but the ruling opens it up for extension to all of London’s boroughs from August 29.
It isn’t spectacularly extreme; to avoid the charge, diesel cars must generally have been first registered after September 2015, while most petrol cars registered after 2005 are also exempt.
Drivers of vehicles passing through the ULEZ area that do not comply with emissions standards are charged a daily rate of £12.50.
The decision is a blow against Rishi Sunak’s Tories, after their winning candidate in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election last week, Steve Tuckwell, said the vote had been called a “referendum on ULEZ”.
Opposition party leader Keir Starmer also clashed with Mr Khan over the policy.
Here’s what Mr Khan had to say about the ruling on TV:
Today’s High Court decision means we can proceed with cleaning up outer London’s toxic air.
I’ve been listening to Londoners and I’m expanding the ULEZ scrappage scheme to nearly a million families who receive child benefit & all small businesses.pic.twitter.com/AU9SafG4LP
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) July 28, 2023
He also published a statement:
BREAKING: My statement on today's ULEZ High Court ruling: pic.twitter.com/b9nYaOGTZh
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) July 28, 2023
Here’s a pertinent comment:
Good.
Will fade as a political issue after introduction when drivers realise it applies to the fewer than one-in-10 older vehicles that are most polluting.
“Tory-councils lose High Court bid to stop Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion.” https://t.co/C00UrVN4fm
— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) July 28, 2023
That’s the important take-away from this storm-under-a-petrol-cap: fewer than one-tenth of vehicle owners will be affected by the ULEZ expansion.
That means both Labour and the Tories have been flinging blame about nothing.
It also means that Keir Starmer needs to find another excuse for his loss in London, if he still wants to deflect attention away from his own failings as an Opposition party leader.