Activists in London are using stickers and posters on cameras and vehicles to protest Mayor Sadiq Khan’s expansion of the ultra-low emission zone. The Mail has more.
The black cameras have been covered with stickers bearing the words “FCUK Khan” in protest against the London Mayor’s draconian expansion of the capital’s ultra-low emission zone.
In addition, posters put up on poles point up at the technology with the words ‘Spy camera’.
Other posters have been left on cars warning drivers of the charges being imposed on non-compliant vehicles.
It comes as plans to potentially block the ultra-low emission zone expansion coming into force across the whole of London next week have been shelved.
The expansion is due to come into place next week, with drivers of the most polluting vehicles billed £12.50 a day for coming within a new Ulez boundary around London.
Cabinet ministers are said to have been exploring using a little-known legal power allowing them to overrule Mr. Khan’s plans where they are inconsistent with national policies.
But Government lawyers have apparently said the challenge would fail in the courts, the Telegraph reported.
It means the controversial rollout of the Ulez expansion across the whole of London will go ahead as planned next Tuesday.
The little-known legal clause in the 1999 Greater London Authority Act states that a transport secretary can effectively block a decision by the London Mayor if it is “inconsistent with national properties relating to transport” and if this would be “detrimental” to anywhere outside Greater London.
But given the U.K.’s own policies on improving air pollution and cutting carbon emissions, lawyers have warned the Government that the move would most likely be quashed in court if challenged.
A Downing Street source said: “We have and continue to look at options, but they are limited. The people who could stop this tomorrow are the Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan and Sir Keir Starmer.” …
Meanwhile, a YouGov poll of 1,000 Londoners shows Mr. Khan has a popularity rating of minus 12 across the city, with 52% of respondents viewing him unfavourably, compared with 40% favourably.
Yet in outer boroughs, his net rating plunged to minus 24.
Worth reading in full.
Stop Press: The expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone cannot be overruled by No10, the Telegraph has learned, as Government lawyers have warned that any attempt to block it would likely be rejected by the courts.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.