Vehicles that will be scrapped beneath Sadiq Khan’s Ulez guidelines cannot be despatched to the Ukraine frontline, it emerged at this time.
Drivers have been provided a one-off fee of £2,000 in the event that they scrap a car that doesn’t adjust to the controversial low emission scheme.
It was hoped that a few of these, significantly 4x4s and pick-up vans, could possibly be provided to Ukraine to spice up its conflict efforts towards Russia.
Nonetheless, the London Mayor wrote in a letter to his counterpart in Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, that laws mentioned tweaking the scrappage scheme ‘for the needs of exporting automobiles to Ukraine wouldn’t meet the authorized threshold of demonstrating the profit to Londoners from an financial, social or environmental perspective’.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London mentioned: ‘Sadiq needs to help Ukraine in any approach he can and is deeply annoyed that sending Londoners’ non-compliant ULEZ automobiles to Ukraine through the scrappage scheme isn’t inside his authorized powers.
Sadiq Khan has been slammed for blocking a plan to ship automobiles that will be scrapped beneath Ulez guidelines to the Ukraine frontline
The London Mayor has reportedly mentioned in a letter obtained by The Telegraph, that he’s towards automobiles – that are often 4x4s and pick-up vans – to the entrance line
‘So as an alternative he has arrange an internet site enabling Londoners who’ve an appropriate non-compliant car to donate their automobiles on to Ukraine.
‘He is additionally requested the GLA to work with TfL, London Hearth Brigade and the Met to see whether or not they can ship any appropriate automobiles to Ukraine – and a lot of London hearth engines have already gone to assist the trigger.’
The spokesperson added: ‘The Mayor is completely appalled by Russia’s ongoing unlawful invasion of Ukraine and the capital stands in solidarity with the thousands and thousands of Ukrainians affected by this terrible conflict.
‘Sadly, altering the ULEZ scheme for the aim of exporting automobiles to Ukraine isn’t doable throughout the present limits of the GLA Act.
‘Nonetheless Sadiq has requested his officers to work straight with Mayor Klitschko’s workforce to see how we may also help promote this initiative from Ukrainian charities and the GLA additionally continues to work with its useful our bodies and can help them in any car donations that they’ll make by means of nationwide donation schemes.’
Susan Corridor, the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, described the transfer to dam automobiles as ‘absurd’.
She informed The Telegraph: ‘Londoners who select to scrap their automobiles ought to have the liberty to resolve for themselves if they need their automobile despatched to help Ukraine.
‘Standing with Ukraine towards tyrants like Putin isn’t solely an ethical crucial but additionally in one of the best curiosity of all Londoners and the worldwide group.’
Richard Lofthouse, who works with Automobile for Ukraine, which ship 4x4s and vans to the conflict effort, slammed Mr Khan for displaying a ‘lack of political braveness’.
The information comes after it was revealed that Mr Khan’s controversial Ulez growth generated £5.3million in its first week with 300,000 further drivers charged for driving non-compliant automobiles inside Higher London.
Greater than 425,000 ULEZ expenses had been paid within the week following the extension, in comparison with simply 140,000 the week earlier than.
At first of the month, it was revealed that Kent MP Gareth Johnson was making an attempt to get the Higher London Low Emission Zone Charging (Modification) Invoice into regulation to order what he mentioned was an ‘unfair stealth tax’ on his constituents.
Mr Johnson mentioned: ‘That is an unfair stealth tax on the individuals of Dartford and throughout the south east, hitting the poorest the toughest. The London Mayor, Sadiq Khan has no mandate for this.’