I have opposed the ULEZ expansion from the outset, and have met with Government Ministers, penned a joint letter to the Labour Mayor of London with colleagues and spoken out about it in Parliament on a number of occasions. My inbox is always full of emails from people who don’t want to see the expansion, and I talk to people on a daily basis who are very concerned about the cost implications for them. Nobody in Watford gets the chance to vote for the Mayor of London, yet many will be profoundly affected by, what is essentially a deeply unfair tax, on their vehicles.
It was disappointing to see the rejection of the legal challenge by five Conservative-led councils today regarding the ULEZ expansion. This news is certainly not what my hardworking residents wanted to hear. This is effectively a tax of £12.50 on hardworking people who may not be able to afford to change their vehicles to meet ULEZ requirements. Many of my residents, which includes carers, nurses, volunteers and small business owners will be impacted, even those who may only briefly drive into the ULEZ extension areas because they have no choice in getting to work or visit loved ones. In my view this is essentially a tax on my constituents in Watford which is deeply unfair and so I will continue to urge the Labour Mayor of London to think again.
