The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has criticized the Tory administration over its entrenched position over the ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) scheme.
According to the Mayor, the Prime Minister Sunak stands the chance of being seen as the leader, who “had the chance to save lives but refused to take it,” but placed on his political spectacles and refused to do so. He also criticized the administration of weaponizing climate change and air pollution for its political gains.
Khan claimed that, Rishi Sunak has “placed decades of progress on clean air into reverse” and now, is at the point of “stunting the lungs” of the younger generation, due to his opposition to the scheme.
The mayor insisted that, administrations in Birmingham, Bristol, and Portsmouth receive financial support from the central government, as a means to fund their clean air zone policies.
He claimed that, the government however, declined to financially support the London policy. In order to achieve its aim, Khan claimed, the city has the power of authority over transportation and quality of air.
As such, Sadiq Khan has admonished ministers in the Tory administration to add their voices to the scheme, and financially support the accompanying scrappage program, as they’ve done for other cities in England.
As it comes into effect on Tuesday, the Ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) scheme would roughly affect over 700,000 motorist in the Greater London Metropolis, and they would be subjected to a £12.50-per-day Ulez fee.
“I trust in Londoners and that they will understand how difficult this decision was but also how necessary it was. There are lives on the line, lives in my hands. I don’t want future generations to ask why we knew what we did, had the opportunity to act and didn’t.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.
On the other hand, due to the Ulez policy, officials in the opposition Labour party apportioned blame the London Mayor for their defeat in the bye-election at Uxbridge.
On the contrary, Prime Minister Sunak made changes and also postponed some of his green policies that had a financial impact on consumers, after Tory won the Uxbridge bye-elections, basing its campaign on the Ulez scheme.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sadiq Khan has maintained that, the quality of air in London remains an urgent health need. He explained that, in 2019, around 4,000 Londoners lost their lives unexpectedly, owning to reasons connected to pollution.
According to data, more than half of people living in the boroughs of London experience NO2, and PM2.5 levels of air pollution, which, according to experts, are above WHO recommendations.
It claimed that, over 500,000 Londoners suffer from Asthma, which makes them more susceptible to air pollution.
“I’m not saying clean air zones are right for every part of Britain. But I know what the scientists, health practitioners and other experts tell me about our city and London has such toxic air, nothing else will fix it as fast or effectively.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.
Following the passing of nine-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah, who died from complications of air pollution, Khan revealed that, he visited children’s hospitals where more children are having troubles breathing due to air pollution.
“Rishi Sunak has been shown to have been irresponsible and hypocritical. What does he have to say to the parents of all those children with asthma who can’t breathe? Why is it OK to give financial support to clean air zones around the country but not London?
“He could be the prime minister who puts a decade of progress on clean air in London into reverse. If he does, he will go down in history as the polluting PM who had the chance to save lives but refused to take it, stunting our children’s lungs in the process.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.
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