Sadiq Khan apologies to Peter Fortune for calling him ‘thick’
Sadiq Khan has been branded an “utter hypocrite” after it emerged he plans to fly to New York this weekend with five aides to talk at a climate summit.
It is understood that the Labour London Mayor will use the international platform to celebrate his highly controversial expansion of the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) to the whole of London.
This week, Transport Secretary Mark Harper branded the policy “a cash grab” and said that even Khan’s own scientific justification proved it had “a negligible effect” on air quality.
But with his £12.50 tax on thousands of motorists a day up and running, the mayor will be burning huge amount of carbon emissions to get himself across the Atlantic where he will join Prince William at the summit.
The trip will see him attend the United Nations General Assembly and take part in the UN climate ambition summit and the row comes as the London Assembley opens an investigation into whether Khan was dishonest about settuing up ULEZ.
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It is not known if Khan will also discuss plans for forcing motorists to pay by the mile or his new proposals for 20mph speed restrictions copying the extreme policies of the Labour Welsh Government.
Conservative London Mayor candidate Susan Hall has promised to cancel the ULEZ expansion on day one if she is elected next May.
She told Express.co.uk that Khan is “an utter hypocrite” who “has taken Londoners for fools”.
Ms Hall said: “While Sadiq Khan enjoys the perks, swanning off to America to lecture everyone about his ULEZ tax, Londoners are paying the price.
“The poorest have been hit hardest by this disastrous ULEZ expansion, facing debts or a £12.50 daily charge.”
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She went on: “As Mayor, I have listened to Londoners and will put more money back in their pockets, by scrapping the ULEZ expansion on day one.
“Sadiq Khan is an utter hypocrite who is taking Londoners for fools.”
While at the summit, Mr Khan is expected to appear alongside Prince William at the Earthshot Prize summit set up to award prizes for the most innovative ways to “repair the planet”.
Mr Khan said: “I am looking forward to visiting New York where I will be banging the drum for London, showcasing our capital as the perfect destination for businesses to invest in and tourists to visit as I continue working to build a more prosperous London for everyone.
“I am determined for London to continue being a world leader in tackling the twin dangers of air pollution and the climate emergency. My visit to the UN is an opportunity to learn from other cities and nations and ensure London remains at the forefront of global action.”
He will be hoping his trip is less controversial than the one he made to California where he tried to launch a commission into legalising cannabis.
Howard Cox, the London Mayor candidate for Reform UK who plans to abolish ULEZ in the entirity of London, also believes Mr Khan’s trip to New York is hypocritical.
The Fair Fuel campaign founder said: “What an appalling hypocrite the London Mayor is. Whilst he fleeces drivers at every cash grabbing opportunity to allegedly save the planet.
“Sadiq Khan is gleefully happy to jet off to the US for ULEZ talks.
“This typifies our Capital’s clueless dishonest leader so out of touch with grass root voters who won’t forget his hypocrisy at next year’s ballot box.”
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