Rishi Sunak vows to scrap Ulez expansion as he says Conservatives are 'the party on the side of drivers'

7 June 2024, 22:57

The Conservatives have pledged to be the 'party on the side of drivers'
The Conservatives have pledged to be the 'party on the side of drivers'. Picture: Alamy/Getty

By Flaminia Luck

The Conservatives have pledged to reverse the Ulez expansion if they get re-elected, among other measures that they say make them "the party on the side of drivers".

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

They said they would also end pay-per-mile road taxes and rule out blanket Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones.

Money saved from cancelling HS2 will also be used to repair roads and fix potholes, they added.

Susan Hall, the Conservatives' unsuccessful candidate for London mayor, also planned to end the Ulez expansion to the outer boroughs, which was brought in at the end of August last year.

The £12.50 Ulez charge was originally introduced by Labour mayor Sadiq Khan in 2019 to improve air quality in London by disincentivising people with older, more polluting cars from driving in the capital.

It has caused controversy, with some saying that they need their car to get around and cannot afford the charge. Others have backed the move for health and environmental reasons.

The Conservatives say the ULEZ tax rise only has a "moderate" or "minor" effect on pollution
The Conservatives say the ULEZ expansion is "unpopular". Picture: Alamy

The Ulez charge applies to all vehicles that have emissions standards older than Euro 4 for petrol engines, or Euro 6 for diesel engines.

That means that petrol vehicles registered before 2005 and diesel vehicles registered before 2015 are likely to have pay the charge.

Drivers of cars, smaller vans and motorbikes that don't meet Ulez standards have to pay £12.50 a day to drive within the zone.

Sadiq Khan introduced Ulez
Sadiq Khan introduced Ulez. Picture: Alamy

The Conservatives said in a statement that the ULEZ expansion had led to thousands of people living around London being charged to get to hospital appointments or where they work or study.

"Pay-per-mile road taxes are one of the most worrying proposals currently being explored by local Labour politicians.

"They could see drivers charged depending on how far they drive, what time of day and what car they drive it in. Labour looked at a national scheme last time they were in Government. This Bill will make sure they can never be introduced.

"While 20mph zones can help improve road safety in residential areas or outside schools, misuse undermines public trust and risks congestion and pollution, so we are clear they must only be considered on a road-by-road basis, and with the support of people who live there.

"So the Conservatives will rule out blanket Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones which have been so damaging to businesses.

"Under these plans, local people will be newly empowered with any new schemes subject to a local referendum and a right to challenge existing schemes.

"These measures will also apply in Wales where the Welsh Labour Government has ignored the views of the public and imposed blanket 20mph speed limits. 

"This builds on the Conservatives’ strong track record of backing drivers. Measures like freezing fuel duty for 14 years in a row, saving the average household £1,000, publishing the milestone Plan for Drivers and putting hundreds of millions into the Safer Roads Fund."

They added they are building over 1,100 of new and upgraded major roads.

They also said they will invest £8.3billion saved from cancelling HS2 to repair roads and fix potholes.

Read more: Majority of Brits say Rishi Sunak skipping D-Day event is 'unacceptable', as minister calls criticism 'unfair'

Rishi Sunak announced his cancellation of HS2 at last year's Conservative Party Conference
Rishi Sunak announced his cancellation of HS2 at last year's Conservative Party Conference. Picture: Getty

Rishi Sunak said: “We are the party on the side of drivers. That’s why we have a clear plan to keep motoring costs under control and ensure people have the freedom to drive as they need to lead their daily lives.

“We will empower drivers and local residents to challenge aggressive and punitive traffic-inducing measures, like low traffic neighbourhoods that were imposed without local consent."

Transport for London declined to comment, citing election rules.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Rolf Harris has died aged 93

Paedophile entertainer Rolf Harris died penniless after 'wiping out £16m fortune to make it harder for victims to access'

Captain Sir Tom Moore's daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Money 'reasonably expected' to reach Captain Tom's charity never did, commissioner tells LBC

Which? has revealed the best and worst deals for Black Friday. (stock image)

Black Friday 2024: Which? reveals deals to avoid - and the best alternatives

File photo dated 16/04/20 of the then 99-year-old war veteran Captain Tom Moore, with (left to right) grandson Benji, daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and granddaughter Georgia, at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire

Salary demands, book payments and a doomed spa block: Key findings of the Captain Tom Foundation inquiry

Captain Tom's daughter is facing questions about a hefty book payment

Captain Tom's daughter faces questions over £1.5m book payment after none of the money went to charity

Captain Tom's daughter Hannah and her husband Colin 'significantly' benefited from the foundation personally

Captain Tom's daughter and her husband saw 'significant personal benefit' from father's charity, inquiry finds

The tourist died in the Patong are of Phuket.

British tourist found dead in Phuket storm drain after going missing on night out

Marcus Fakana, 18, is facing 20-years behind bars.

Brit teenager, 18, facing 20-year jail sentence for 'holiday romance' with 17-year-old girl in Dubai

Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, made the dramatic admission under cross-examination in court today

Sara Sharif begged for forgiveness for 'being rude' in letter to parents, court hears

Simone White, Holly Bowles, Bianca Jones

British tourists 'in hospital with methanol poisoning' after drinking toxic shots in Laos holiday spot

Soldiers from the 13th counter intelligence battalion, 2nd reconnaissance platoon of the Swedish Armed Forces, participate in military exercise in Kungsangen

Britain must learn from Sweden to boost defence as tensions with Russia rise, military chief says

Exclusive
Errol Musk called on Starmer to resign

Elon Musk's father calls on Keir Starmer to resign as he claims Labour have 'sent England back 400 years'

Sky Television HQ

Sky employee dies after 'falling from height' at London headquarters

Halyna Hutchins was shot dead on the set of Rust

Alec Baldwin's Rust film premieres 3 years after cinematographer shot dead - but her mother refuses to come

Schoolgirl, 14, and pensioner, 71, fighting for their lives after van ploughs into crowd of Christmas shoppers

Schoolgirl, 14, and pensioner, 71, left fighting for their lives after van ploughs into crowd of Christmas shoppers

Three men have been arrested after a bomb scare in Glasgow

Three men arrested after bomb scare at bus station