Howard Cox, the Reform UK candidate for London Mayor, will today blow open the election next year with a vow to pay back every charge by Sadiq Khan resulting from the rollout of the hated Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
The pledge, which could cost hundreds of millions, comes alongside his plan to cancel ULEZ in the whole of greater London not just the outer area – where Khan has extended the charge to.
Currently, drivers of diesel vehicles older than 2015 and petrol vehicles older than 2005 have to pay a daily fee of £12.50 a day.
That amounts to more than £4,500 a year for those who have to drive every day.
Mr Cox will reverse this policy and promise to pay back both fees and fines in his speech for Reform UK’s conference today in London.
The cut-off point for fees and fines paid back will be from August 29 2023, when the new expanded zone across London came into force.
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READ MORE: Labour flip flop on ULEZ charge raises new fears they will impose them across UK
Mr Cox’s announcement comes with a direct challenge to the Conservative candidate Susan Hall to match his pledge.
She has only agreed to cancel ULEZ in outer London, but would continue with the scheme in the original inner London zone.
Mr Cox will say in his speech: “When elected as London’s Mayor, on day one, not only will I close down the ULEZ cash-grabbing department in TfL and scrap all ULEZ.
“I will refund all fines and fees paid in the new despised ULEZ expansion zone since August 29th, 2023.
“I challenge Susan Hall to do the same.”
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He will add: “Mayor Khan says ULEZ has never been a cash grab plan, he boasts that any net revenue raised by the ULEZ is guaranteed to be invested in improving the transport network in London.
“So, on that premiss there must be some surplus cash available to refund to drivers hit hard by this deceitful Mayor of London.”
The announcement comes amid new concerns that Labour is planning on rolling out ULEZ schemes up and down the UK.
This follows Labour run Camden Council announcing plans to impose a second ULEZ style charge on its residents.
Mr Cox made his name as a long term campaigner for motorists at the head of the Fair Fuel campaign opposing petrol duty rises.
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