Uxbridge by-election: Labour candidate speaks out against Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion

The Labour candidate hoping to win Boris Johnson’s former seat has spoken out against the Mayor’s Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion amid concerns it could damage the party’s chances in the Uxbridge by-election.

Danny Beales said he had heard “heart-wrenching stories” from those who would not be able to afford to upgrade their cars or pay the £12.50-a-day charge when the Ulez is extended to outer London in August.

Speaking at a debate on Tuesday night, he said: “It’s not the right time to extend the Ulez scheme to outer London, it’s just not.”

He added that he had written to Sadiq Khan to voice his concerns about the scheme.

“I’ve spoken out about this issue,” Mr Beales said. “I have had hundreds of conversations on the doorstep and that’s the message I give. Community first, party second.”

The comments mark a split in the Labour Party and a change in Mr Beales’ public position. It is the first time he has publicly suggested the scheme should not be expanded.

However, he defended the plans last month while acknowledging that it is “tough” for families facing higher bills in a cost-of-living crisis.

He told the Standard that he could not support the Ulez until the Mayor and the Government go “much further” with support for families and City Hall’s £110 million scrappage scheme.

Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell has said the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election on July 20 will be “a referendum” on Mr Khan’s Ulez.

Mr Beales, a Camden councillor, told the Standard: “Something I’ve been saying throughout is that I don’t think the support that’s there goes far enough.

“And when you hear the stories on the doorstep, we hear people who really don’t face much choice about the matter.

“They can’t afford a new car. So for them it’s do I retire early, do I give up my job? Do I not go and visit my family? These are the decisions people are making. And I think as I meet all those people… they’re all in favour of good-quality air, but it needs to be done in a way that doesn’t impact working people in the way that the current proposals do without a proper scrappage scheme.

“So I think the Mayor of and Government really need to go much further.”

The Ulez expansion is due to go ahead in August and will see the most polluting vehicles have to pay a £12.50-a-day toll.

But a High Court challenge against the scheme by five Conservative-run councils is taking place this week.

On Tuesday it heard that Transport for London’s claim that more than nine in 10 car drivers would be unaffected by the Ulez expansion could not be substantiated and was based on “impenetrable” data.

The Conservatives accused Labour of playing “political games” and “u-turning” in an attempt to win over voters.

It comes after Mr Khan stepped in to save Uxbridge police station just weeks before residents go to the polls.

The closure of the station had also become a major issue for voters as Labour battles to take control of the former prime minister’s seat.

Mr Tuckwell said: “That’s two major u-turns in less than 48 hours. Voters will see through that. Clearly, Labour are feeling the heat and they’re flip-flopping all over the place.

”It's a fact that Danny Beales has backed Ulez expansion to our borough for years from the comfort of his central London Council chamber.

“Now it's losing him support on the doorstep, so he's trying to trick people into thinking he wants it delayed.

“Local people don't want a delay, they want it scrapped. Full stop.”