London mayor Sadiq Khan has faced a backlash after linking campaigners against his plan to extend the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to outer London to the far right, ‘covid deniers’ and ‘vaccine deniers’.
Keir Starmer, the leader of Mr Khan’s own party, Labour, also distanced himself from Mr Khan’s comments, saying he should ‘take on board the concerns that people are expressing’.
At a ‘people’s question time’ event at last Thursday, the mayor said: ‘Let’s be frank. Some of those outside are part of the far-right. Some are Covid deniers. Some are vaccine-deniers. And some are Tories.’
His comments drew criticism from across the political spectrum, including Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon, who wrote on Twitter: ‘People have valid concerns around ULEZ timings as many are struggling in this Cost of Living crisis. Accusing them to be far-right is frankly not helpful and is below the office of the Mayor.’
People have valid concerns around ULEZ timings as many are struggling in this Cost of Living crisis. Accusing them to be far-right is frankly not helpful and is below the office of the Mayor. https://t.co/5K6oBopnM4
— Caroline Pidgeon ?? ???? (@CarolinePidgeon) March 3, 2023
Speaking on LBC on Monday morning, Mr Starmer said: ‘I would not speak in that way. I do think there are people with real concerns about the ULEZ scheme.’
However, he made clear that he backed the planned expansion of the ULEZ to outer London boroughs and would not delay it, something that some Labour MPs have called for.
He said: ‘I think it is right for the mayor to take on board the concerns that people are expressing, but there is always a reason not to make a change and this is a serious issue.’
A recent protest in Oxford over 15-minute neighbourhood plans did however appear to attract far-right fringe elements. Videos and commentary circulating online suggest that members of nationalist groups had joined the local protest against traffic filters.
