Tories set to capitalise on residents’ fury over Labour’s ULEZ ‘cash grab’ in Boris Johnson’s former constituency by-election
- The Labour party is favourite to win the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election
- But it is thought Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion could cause problems for party
The Tories are set to capitalise on driver fury at Sadiq Khan’s clean air zone as they fight to hold onto Boris Johnson’s former constituency.
Kicking off the Conservative by-election campaign in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, party chairman Greg Hands said residents are ‘furious’ at the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) ‘cash grab’.
Labour is the favourite to win the seat, but Mr Khan’s decision to expand Ulez could cause the party problems.
The Labour candidate, Danny Beales, has backed the tax and suggested struggling families hit by the £250-a-month green levy should blame the Government.
The £12.50 daily emissions toll will be expanded to outer London areas such as Uxbridge and South Ruislip in August.
Asked yesterday by ITV if he supported Ulez, Mr Beales said: ‘We all want cleaner air, we all need to take polluting cars off the roads, to get more electric vehicles and we need to do that in the right way.
Labour is the favourite to win the seat, but Mr Khan’s decision to expand Ulez could cause the party problems
Uxbridge & South Ruislip has been held continuously by the Conservatives since the constituency was created in 2010. Mr Johnson’s majority stood at 7,210 in 2019
‘I think it is tough at the moment for families facing the potential of an extra bill when this government has mismanaged the economy – mortgage rates are up, fuel bills are up, food bills are up, so it is difficult – but I think what we need is a strategy from the Government to transition our vehicles.
‘We all want electric vehicles and this government is doing nothing to make it happen.’
The Conservatives launched their campaign in Uxbridge today – warning that the Ulez charge would hurt constituents.
Tory chairman Greg Hands said: ‘I’ve been in Uxbridge today to kick off our by-election campaign, where residents have been telling me how furious they are with Sadiq Khan’s cynical Ulez cash grab.
‘But it’s clear that Labour would rather back Mayor Khan than stick up for Uxbridge residents – selecting to be their candidate a Camden councillor who wanted Ulez expanded years ago.
‘Only the Conservatives can be trusted to stand up for Uxbridge.’
The £12.50 daily emissions toll will be expanded to outer London areas such as Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Uxbridge & South Ruislip has been held continuously by the Conservatives since the constituency was created in 2010. Mr Johnson’s majority stood at 7,210 in 2019.
Labour has always come second in this seat at general elections and polled 38 per cent of the vote in 2019, 15 percentage points behind Mr Johnson.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes put Labour at 9/1 on to win Uxbridge, with the Tories at 5/1 to hold onto it.
Two other by-elections are expected next month alongside Mr Johnson’s former seat, after Nigel Adams and Nadine Dorries announced they too would quit the Commons.
Their seats of Selby & Ainsty and Mid-Bedfordshire are also key targets for Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
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