Uxbridge by-election: Keir Starmer won't say whether he backs ULEZ expansion

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to instrumentality a broadside successful a by-election quality implicit whether to grow London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Under plans from Labour politician Sadiq Khan, the clean-air portion is acceptable to go 3 times bigger from 29 August.

But Labour's campaigner successful this month's Uxbridge by-election, Danny Beales, wants the enlargement halted.

In a BBC interview, the Labour person declined to accidental which presumption helium backed.

He added that Mr Khan was trying to fulfil his ineligible obligations to trim emissions, whilst Mr Beales was trying to combat for his aboriginal constituents.

"Both of those things person to beryllium accommodated," helium added.

The Labour person has antecedently said that Mr Khan was "right" to grow the zone, arguing past period it was portion of the combat to curb lung cancer.

The ULEZ was introduced successful cardinal London successful 2019, processing a erstwhile debased emanation portion (LEZ) for larger vehicles similar buses, lorries and coaches that was archetypal introduced successful 2008.

Under Mr Khan, it was extended to wrong the North and South Circular roads successful 2021.

Under the London mayor's projected caller expansion, its outer borders would scope Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.

Drivers indispensable wage £12.50 if they thrust a diesel conveyance much than 7 years old, oregon 17 years if it uses petrol, and look a maximum £180 good if they bash not pay.

Mr Khan has said widening the strategy volition amended London's aerial quality, but it has proved hugely contentious successful outer London boroughs.

It has besides emerged arsenic a cardinal contented successful the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election connected 20 July, erstwhile voters volition take a caller MP to regenerate Boris Johnson aft his determination to stand down arsenic an MP.

Labour MPs who person campaigned successful the constituency admit privately that ULEZ is being raised often connected the doorstep and volition outgo Labour votes.

Conservative campaigner Steve Tuckwell opposes the expansion, which helium says volition enactment an further fiscal load connected Uxbridge residents.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a intermission successful the expansion. Earlier this week, their Uxbridge campaigner Blaise Baquiche criticised the generosity of scrappage strategy for low-income Londoners with grants to regenerate polluting vehicles.

The Green Party, whose campaigner successful Uxbridge is Sarah Green, has called for further roadworthy pricing schemes and wants to grow the akin portion successful Brighton, wherever it runs the council.

A afloat database of Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election candidates can beryllium recovered here.

At an predetermination hustings earlier this week, Mr Beales said it was "not the close time" to grow ULEZ, amid existent outgo of surviving pressures.

Pressed connected whether helium agreed with his by-election candidate, Sir Keir replied: "I wholly recognize his position," adding: "He's warring for what helium hopes volition beryllium his constituents successful that by-election if helium wins it".

But helium added that Mr Khan had made the determination to grow the portion successful the "context" of a ineligible request to trim aerial pollution.

"So reducing this to a governmental statement for the involvement of the by-election, without respect to the background, doesn't marque immoderate difference," helium said.

He added that helium wanted cardinal authorities to springiness much enactment for radical and businesses affected by the expansion.

Speaking earlier successful the London Assembly, Mr Khan confirmed Mr Beales had lobbied him for a hold to the scheme, arsenic good arsenic much enactment for residents.

"Danny's got a antithetic presumption to maine and I respect him. He's a section champion, he's a fighter," the politician added.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeatedly spoken retired against ULEZ expansion, telling MPs past period that Mr Khan was "not listening" to the views of residents successful outer London.

Five Conservative-led councils person launched a ineligible situation to the expansion, with their lawyers arguing successful the High Court this week that Mr Khan lacks the ineligible powers to bash so.