COMMENT with JAMES DAY
Since the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election result, Labour and the Conservatives are falling over each other to weaken green policy, having both attributed the Conservatives holding the seat by the skin of their teeth to the expansion of the London Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Both parties believe constituents in the area were unhappy with London mayor Sadiq Khan (Labour) pushing ahead with the widening of the ULEZ in the face of a rising cost of living.
It is likely to be a contributing factor. There have been reports that public transport in the region is not good enough for people to reliably replace their cars, and so those who feel they are required to own a car feel penalised. The mayor does appear to recognise this, with revenue raised through the ULEZ earmarked for improvements to bus stops, new electric buses and the new Superloop service (see page 18) as well as walking and cycling initiatives. Many of these schemes are London-wide, and not specific to the area affected by the ULEZ expansion, though the Superloop rebrand of the existing 607 was likely in response to criticism about lack of bus service enhancements in outer London.
Still, the amount of weigh…
