Khan wants to make his legacy of the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez). He worked on the plan, which disappeared into a drawer under his predecessor Boris Johnson. The trial in Central London went relatively smoothly, as did the expansion two years ago. Now that all nine million Londoners have to pay for driving old petrol and diesel cars, a storm is brewing.
“No, no, no,” says Jason, who enjoys coffee and a sandwich in the sun with his partner Dee. Five months ago he sold the family car, ‘a brik’. The pandemic, the energy crisis and inflation have already eroded the family budget. The father of three could not afford to pay 15 euros a day to Ulez. Jason and Dee live in a neighborhood in Lewisham that until today was just outside the payment zones.
“Cleaner air is important,” adds Dee. “But this feels like a policy to fill the gaps in the city hall budget. I don’t trust Khan. It sounds good in theory, but its design is flawed.” The couple’s criticism ties in with widespread resistance. Khan’s Labor party thought to take the vacant seat of former Prime Minister Johnson in the Uxbridge constituency, but lost because of the aversion to Ulez.