Parliament has now risen for the summer recess after a very busy few weeks leading up to it. Several key pieces of legislation were debated in the House and three by-elections took place across the country, including in my neighbouring constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Readers of my previous article will be aware that I supported Steve Tuckwell in his campaign to become the next Member of Parliament for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. I was therefore delighted by his win after a hard-fought campaign, at the centre of which was staunch opposition to the Mayor’s expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) into outer London. The result sent a crystal-clear message to City Hall about how residents who will be impacted by this policy feel. I am therefore very disappointed with the High Court’s ruling that the expansion is ‘lawful’ following a legal challenge brought by five Conservative-led councils, including Hillingdon and Harrow. This has now given the greenlight for the Mayor to press ahead with this ridiculous and damaging policy.
I would like to be very clear that we all have a right to clean air and Conservatives are relentless in pursuit of improved air quality. However, by Mayor Khan's own admission, ULEZ does little, if anything, for air quality and nothing for climate change, whilst penalising everyone who relies on an older vehicle. This is especially true for people in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, where public transport is not as accessible as in central London. It seems that the Mayor has little regard for those who rely on older cars to go about their day-to-day. Local business owners have also voiced legitimate concerns about a decline in footfall because customers who would usually travel from outside the zone will no longer do so to avoid being hit with these charges.
I stand with my Conservative colleagues seeking solutions that work for the suburbs, where Heathrow and motorway emissions dwarf those from residents’ older cars and are ignored by our inner London Mayor. We will continue to work on behalf of our constituents who will be unfairly impacted by the expansion.
I would like to remind readers that my office remains open over the summer recess period. IF you require support, please contact me via 0203 545 2462 or [email protected].
First published: My Local News, August 2023
