LABOUR were today accused of "hammering" disabled drivers after torpedoing a bid for them to be exempt from London's steep pollution charges.
Tories in the capital tabled a vote for Blue Badge holders to avoid the £12.50 daily rate for driving through Sadiq Khan's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
But despite being supported by unlikely allies the Greens it was blocked by Labour and the Lib Dems by 12 votes to eight.
While London's quarter of a million Blue Badge drivers are exempt from the capital's congestion charge they still have to pay for the ULEZ unless they've got a special permit.
A car has to be specifically registered as a disabled passenger vehicle to be exempt from ULEZ.
The 24-hour ULEZ was recently expanded to cover everywhere between the North and South circulars to raise more cash and curb pollution.
City Hall Conservatives slammed Labour for "disgracefully" sinking the plan to expand this to all Blue Badge holders.
London Assembly member Nick Rogers, who launched the vote, said: "Blue Badge holders cannot afford Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion.
They are often more reliant on their vehicles and less able to buy a new one or pay the daily £12.50 charge.
Disgracefully, Labour and Liberal Democrat Assembly Members rejected our plea today for the Mayor to exempt the quarter of a million Blue Badge holders from ULEZ.
"We need to clean up London's air, but we can't do it on the backs of disabled people and the poorest Londoners. Shamefully, that's what Labour and Liberal Democrat Assembly Members voted to do today."
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