Mayor Sadiq Khan Warns Housing Crisis is Dragging Economic Growth of London…reports Asian Lite News
Mayor Sadiq Khan has sounded the alarm on the detrimental economic impacts of London’s housing crisis, emphasizing the need for greater investment in affordable housing. New economic analysis released by City Hall, London Councils, Trust for London, and the G15 reveals that a mere one per cent increase in housing affordability could boost London’s economy by over £7 billion over the next decade.
The Mayor highlights this report as evidence of affordable housing’s importance not only for residents but also for the overall economy. He argues that creating more affordable homes would support local businesses by making it easier to recruit and retain workers, reduce homelessness, and encourage households to invest in other parts of the economy.
“Affordable housing is essential for a thriving, resilient economy,” Khan said. “High rents and property prices not only hurt Londoners but hinder the growth potential of our city.”
Khan is expected to make the case for substantial government investment to address this critical issue, proposing initiatives such as a devolved City Hall Developer Investment Fund and a relaxation of borrowing limits on local councils to help them build more affordable homes. This call comes against a backdrop of soaring construction costs, high-interest rates, and the lingering effects of Brexit, which he says have created the “most challenging environment for housebuilding since the 2008 global financial crisis.”
Khan’s tenure as Mayor has already seen progress, with more council homes started than at any time since the 1970s and an ambitious target to build 40,000 new council homes by 2030. However, he warns that without further national support, London’s ability to meet housing demands and strengthen the economy will remain limited.
The newly published research, conducted by NERA Economic Consulting, also highlights how improved housing affordability could yield economic benefits by increasing productivity and encouraging higher take-home incomes. A modest one per cent improvement in affordability could result in a £730 million annual boost to London’s economy, underscoring the connection between affordable housing and economic resilience.
Claire Holland, Chair of London Councils, and other housing advocates echoed Khan’s call for action, noting that the housing crisis is holding back productivity and affecting Londoners’ quality of life.
Mayor Sadiq Khan Announces Capital’s Annual Diwali on the Square Celebrations…reports Asian Lite News
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that the capital’s annual Diwali on the Square celebrations will return to Trafalgar Square on Sunday, 27 October.
The free, family-friendly event will bring together Londoners and visitors in the heart of the city to enjoy a vibrant program of dance, music, activities, and food from 1-7 pm.
Organized in partnership with the volunteer-led Diwali in London committee, and supported by headline sponsor Remitly, the celebration will showcase the rich culture of London’s Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities.
The festivities will begin with a burst of color and music as 200 traditionally dressed dancers perform at the center of Trafalgar Square. There will be a variety of market stalls and free activities, including dance workshops, yoga and meditation sessions, comedy from Soho Theatre, sari and turban tying, and a Glimpse of Goddesses stall where visitors can learn about Hindu goddesses. This year also introduces a Bhajan singing space with groups performing throughout the day.
Food lovers can indulge in a selection of South Asian cuisine, featuring both traditional and fusion vegan and vegetarian dishes from a range of caterers.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said:
“Diwali on the Square is a fantastic family celebration of light and color. It brings together Londoners and visitors of all backgrounds to mark the symbolic victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance with a packed program of entertainment. As global tensions continue to affect us all, Diwali’s central messages of peace and hope are more pertinent than ever. By uniting to celebrate our diversity, we are showing why our capital is the greatest city in the world, as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”
Parul Jani, Chair of the Diwali in London Committee 2024, and member of the Brahmin Society North London, added:
“On our 23rd year of Diwali on Trafalgar Square, always supported by the Mayor of London, wishing everyone a very Happy Diwali right from the heart. Jai Siya Ram.”
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Khan won 43.7 per cent of the vote, beating Conservative challenger Susan Hall by about 11 percentage points to extend his control of the capital that began in 2016…reports Asian Lite News
Pakistani-origin Sadiq Khan Saturday won a third term as London’s mayor, capping a round of local elections across England that confirmed the political supremacy of the Labour Party and spelt misery for Britain’s Conservative government.
Sadiq Khan won 43.7 per cent of the vote, beating Conservative challenger Susan Hall by about 11 percentage points to extend his control of the capital that began in 2016.
After smashing victory in the election, Sadiq Khan thanked the people of London and said that he would work relentlessly to shape a safer greener city for every Londoner.
“Thank you, London. It’s the honour of my life to serve the city I love. Today is not about making history, it’s about shaping our future. And I’ll work relentlessly to shape a fairer, safer, greener city for every Londoner,” he posted on X.
His victory follows a string of victories around England for Labour, who are firmly positioned to take power from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservatives in a general election in the coming months.
CNN reported that Conservatives lost control of 10 local councils and nearly 500 councillors on Thursday, suffering an electoral drubbing at the hands of the public that virtually everyone – including those within the party – had expected.
Labour leader Keir Starmer told reporters on Saturday, “I am sorry, I don’t care which political party you support, if you leave your country in a worse state than when you found it 14 years later, you do not deserve to be in Government for a moment longer.”
But Sunak likely found enough slender scraps of success to withstand a challenge to his leadership, which rebellious Tories had threatened depending on the outcome of Thursday’s elections.
The party was hoping to keep hold of the mayoral position in the West Midlands on Saturday, after previously holding the same position in the Tees Valley, giving the increasingly beleaguered Sunak something to seize onto as he looks to at least unify his lawmakers in Westminster.
Thursday’s polls marked a final dry run before the general election, which must take place by January. Sunak has resisted calls to outline when he will hold that vote, and Labour leads opinion polls by a huge margin.
Starmer’s opposition party won control of eight councils, and also stormed to victory on Thursday in a Westminster by-election in Blackpool.
The results confirmed the conventional polling narrative that the group is on track to win power, though Labour could not quite pull off the barnstorming red wave that some in the party had hoped for, falling short in some of the trickiest contests it faced.
CNN reported that there were indications too that discontent among the party’s position on Israel’s war in Gaza hurt Labour among voters in areas with large Muslim populations. In particular the loss of Oldham council, a north-west English town, where around a quarter of the population is Muslim.
If his victory is confirmed, Khan would become the first mayor of London to serve a third term since the post was created in 2000.
The city, home to nine million people, is more multicultural, liberal and pro-European than the UK as a whole, leading Khan to occasionally clash with successive Labour leaders, especially over the issue of Brexit, CNN reported.
He has prioritised emissions-cutting policies in an effort to shed the city’s reputation as a major polluter, and made international headlines during a long-running public spat with former US President Donald Trump during his administration.
But critics have attacked Khan’s record on knife crime and his recent expansion of a world-first low-emissions zone, which the Conservatives said would hit poorer families in outer London the hardest.
In his victory speech, Khan promised to deliver a “fairer, safer and greener London”. He said his campaign had answered “fearmongering with facts”, a reference to right-wing threats against him. Ms. Hall was criticized for associating with controversial social media groups in which users had made Islamophobic comments against Khan.
The results in London and across local bodies in England and Wales spelt continuing bad news for the Tories, who have on average, been polling behind Labour by some 20 points. Reports of an internal rebellion against Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emerged after May 2 but had quietened down by Saturday morning. The Tories had one bit of good news in Tees Valley, where Ben Houchen was re-elected Mayor. As of this writing, results from the West Midlands (several elections) were awaited, with Tories hoping Conservative Andy Street would stay on as Mayor.
With 106 of 107 local councils in England declaring results, Labour had won a majority in 50 councils (an addition of eight), with the Conservatives winning a total of six (a loss of 10). The Liberal Democrats won 12 councils (a gain of two). Labour Mayor Andy Burnham was re-elected in Greater Manchester. Labour also won in Liverpool, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
“The honest truth is that this set of results is pretty much what we would have anticipated, given what the opinion polls have been telling us about the mood of the country,” polling expert John Curtice said during an interview with the BBC.
Voting was held on May 2 across the 14 London Assembly constituencies, and the results were declared at the City Hall….reports Asian Lite News
Incumbent Sadiq Khan of the Labour Party was re-elected as the Mayor of London for a record third time on Saturday, defeating Conservative Party candidate Susan Hall by over a million votes.
Voting was held on May 2 across the 14 London Assembly constituencies, and the results were declared at the City Hall.
London’s mayoral election generated quite a bit of interest considering that Khan has been accused of going soft on crime – from thefts, shoplifting, and robberies to attacks involving knives – and also widening the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) which imposes a daily charge of 12.50 pound on non-compliant polluting vehicles operating in a selected territory of the capital city.
Hall, who promised to “get a grip” on crime in London, accused Khan of closing 36 police stations and failing to hire more than 1,000 police officers. She also repeatedly listed stats showing how the crime rate has surged since Khan took over as the London Mayor in 2016.
Leading our nation’s capital is one of the greatest privileges of my life. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you for another four years.
Let’s continue to build a better London for everyone—a city that is fairer, safer, greener, more prosperous and more affordable for all. pic.twitter.com/wLySHPxrbx
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) May 4, 2024
“He has failed London. If Sadiq Khan stays in power, he will take that as permission to keep on ignoring you,” she said during her campaign.
The Tory candidate promised “getting the police out solving crimes again”, saying that she would recruit 1,500 more police officers, set up two new police bases in every borough, bring back borough-based policing, and take firm, targeted actions against knife crime, women’s safety and theft.
Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, one of the most outspoken critics of Khan, also took repeated jibes at the London Mayor while highlighting the rising crime rate in the city.
“Gotta go into London today. NO WATCH and a plastic ring! Congrats, Sadiq Khan!” he posted on X with a photograph of his left hand, last month.
“This bloke has been in charge for years now and all of this London nonsense has been on HIS clock. Blame everyone else, Sadiq Khan – we all know what the greatest leaders DON’T do,” Pietersen said in another post in March in response to Khan saying that keeping Londoners safe was his “number one” priority.
Many experts were keeping a close eye on London’s mayoral elections considering that the country, which has had five Conservative Prime Ministers since 2010, is expected to go to polls later this year.
“It’s time to turn the page on Tory decline and usher in a decade of national renewal with Labour,” Labour Party MP Keir Starmer wrote on X.
A day before the Mayoral elections, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had urged Londoners to back the Conservatives highlighting the rising crime, taxes, and the ULEZ issues.
A local resident named James, who is a teacher for the first time celebrated Diwali and called the experience “absolutely incredible.” He called Diwali an amazing festival...reports Asian Lite News
London Mayor Sadiq Khan organised the annual Diwali celebration at Trafalgar Square on Sunday.The free public event held from 1 pm to 7 pm (local time) featured Indian traditional dances, music, activities, and food from various parts of India that captured the festival’s spirit.Attendees enjoyed performances by London’s Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities, yoga workshops, puppet shows and more. Sadiq Khan hailed the event as embodying Diwali’s symbolic victory of light over darkness.
The landmark Diwali celebrations drew residents not only from London but also people and visitors of all backgrounds from various parts of the UK.A local resident named James, who is a teacher for the first time celebrated Diwali and called the experience “absolutely incredible.” He called Diwali an amazing festival.”Its my first time at Diwali. Absolutely incredible experience. Everyone in London here has come together to celebrate this amazing festival. I love the dancing, but also the reenactments of the story of Ram and Sita, which I think teach us all from every background, every place, teach us something very important and very special.
So really beautiful to experience this together as one global community,” James told ANI.Artists performed dance on folk songs and Bollywood songs like ‘Jai Ho’ and ‘Jo Hai Albela.’ People who attended the Diwali celebration also enjoyed Indian food.Speaking to ANI, an Indian-origin girl said, “This is the first time, I am experiencing Diwali outside of India. So, it feels great and it feels like home away from home. And it is a very great experience to have here. And we are enjoying all of us getting to meet new people. And also I was craving Indian food and I finally got to eat here. And the festive atmosphere is like the perfect beginning for Diwali. So, yeah, this is very a good time.”One Indian-origin boy who attended the Diwali celebration at Trafalgar Square said, “The Londoners who are not Indians, who are not Indian, it’s lovely to see them celebrate what we consider like best festival of light for us. So it’s been, like, amazing. I love the enthusiasm. Not just ours, but theirs as well. And we got to see the mayor speaking. He was an amazing guy.
“Speaking to ANI, a local resident named Vivian who attended the Diwali celebration said, “This is my first time here. This is my first Diwali at Trafalgar Square. I really enjoyed it. I love to dance and I came with my friend and we danced all the time. It (Diwali) is the festival of lights. The atmosphere here is wonderful and people are very friendly…” This year, Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, November 12. (ANI)
Reflecting on his personal journey, Sadiq Khan, born to a British-Pakistani family in South London, wrote, “My grandparents were from India…reports Asian Lite News
London mayor Sadiq Khan appealed to Hindu and Muslim communities to “not allow the politics of the sub-continent to spill over” into the UK.
“We should be eternally on our guard against extremist forces who seek to stoke up tensions between our communities for their own selfish ends. Everyone in the UK and around the world should have the right to live in peace and to practice their religion without fear or threats,” the London mayor said.
The appeal came after a spate of violent clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities in the eastern England city of Leicester following an India-Pakistan cricket match.
Sadiq Khan urged against letting “current or past tensions, and the wider politics of the region, be used as a pretext to stir up trouble on our streets”. “British Muslims and British Hindus should always be allies, not adversaries,” he added.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Sadiq Khan, born to a British-Pakistani family in South London, wrote, “My grandparents were from India. My parents from Pakistan. I was born and raised in London and am proud to call Britain my home. But like many Londoners who can trace their family history to different parts of the world, I feel a strong connection with my heritage, which means both India and Pakistan are dear to me and hold a special place in my heart.”
Night Time Enterprise Zones to be created to help revive the capital’s high streets after 6pm. Zones will support councils and businesses to boost high streets and help drive forward the economic recovery…reports Asian Lite News
Mayor Sadiq Khan unveiled a £500,000 programme to create Night Time Enterprise Zones in the capital to help support London’s economic recovery.
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the capital as businesses and cultural venues faced months of temporary closures and restrictions, but the new Night Time Enterprise Zones will enable boroughs to encourage more people to use their high streets after 6pm and boost the local economy.
The funding, in partnership with the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), will create at least three zones across the capital where boroughs will work with businesses and local communities to develop ideas to make their high streets more accessible, inclusive and welcoming at night.
They will be supported to develop a range of ideas, such as extending opening hours or holding special events, taking measures to improve women’s safety and supporting good work standards for those working at night.
It follows the success of a Night Time Enterprise Zone pilot in Waltham Forest in 2019 where extended opening times, events, increased promotion and repurposing council-owned buildings helped to increase footfall on Walthamstow High Street by 22 per cent, improved safety perceptions and widened local participation.
The Night Time Enterprise Zone programme supports the Mayor’s ambition to make London a 24-hour city and work to drive the capital’s economic recovery. It builds on the Mayor’s wider work to support the capital at night, including the first-of-its-kind Women’s Night Safety Charter for councils, businesses and venues to prioritise women’s safety at night, world-leading guidance for councils to develop Night Time Strategies, a Night Time Data Observatory to provide insight to help in decision making, The High Streets for All Challenge Fund to reimagine high streets, and the Culture and Community Spaces At Risk programme which provides dedicated advice and guidance for the most at risk night time spaces, including grassroots live music and LGBTQ+ venues.
“High streets are the lifeblood of our communities and have a key role to play in our economic recovery from the pandemic,” said the mayor. “Our Night Time Enterprise Zone pilot showed what is possible for our town centres at night and by expanding the zones to more areas we will help local authorities and businesses make their high streets more welcoming and inclusive after 6pm. It’s another example of how we are working to build a better London for everyone after the pandemic.”
Amy Lamé, Night Czar, said: “Our city is incredibly active at night, but too often our high streets shut down from 6pm, offering no reason for people to be there. We have an opportunity to work in partnership to boost local businesses, communities and the wellbeing of night workers across the capital. Through our Night Time Enterprise Zone programme we want to help reimagine our high streets with innovative ideas and help councils, communities and businesses to pioneer better ways of living, working and doing business.”
Last week, Khan spent five days in the US on a visit to promote tourism…reports Asian Lite News
The killer who shot dead 10 people in a US supermarket on Saturday called for the death of London’s Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan, the Mirror has reported.
Payton Gendron, 18, penned a manifesto in which he listed “high-profile enemies,” calling for their assassination.
The list included Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Khan.
Gendron wrote that the mayor is “an open sign of the disenfranchisement and ethnic replacement of the British people in the British isles.
“This Pakistani Muslim invader now sits as representative for the people of London. Londinium, the very heart of the British isles. What better sign of the white rebirth than the removal of this invader?”
Last week, Khan spent five days in the US on a visit to promote tourism.
Gendron traveled two hours to the site of the attack in Buffalo, New York state. He wore body armor and livestreamed the ensuing violence online.
Mayor Sadiq Khan sets out new plan to make London safer and rebuild trust in Met. The mayor’s new Police and Crime Plan hinges on four key priorities: reducing and preventing violent crime, rebuilding trust and confidence in the police; supporting victims, and protecting people from criminal exploitation
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan published his new plan for policing in London over the next three years. Following consultation with nearly 4,000 Londoners, victims of crime, community groups, businesses and others, the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan sets out the key priorities and objectives for policing, which will help to make London safer – and feel safer – for all Londoners.
Sadiq's new Police and Crime plan sets out the key priorities and objectives for policing in the capital over the next three years https://t.co/vvnucqUBok
“Tackling crime and making London safer is my number one priority. Thanks to our relentless efforts over recent years and record investment from City Hall, violent crime continues to fall. But there’s still much more to do to prevent violence and to stop the terrible loss of young lives in our city,” said the mayor. “My new Police and Crime Plan outlines how I will continue to be both tough on crime and tough on the complex causes of crime, taking the action needed to make our city safer and to ensure victims of crime are supported.
“We have a long-standing tradition in this country of policing by consent. But a series of deeply concerning incidents have seriously damaged public trust and confidence in our police. When trust is eroded, it makes it harder to tackle crime, with victims failing to report crime and witnesses discouraged from coming forward when they see criminal activity. That’s why my plan is also focused on ensuring the Met and the next Commissioner urgently make the changes and reforms necessary to rebuild trust and confidence with Londoners.
“As Mayor, I’m determined to ensure that we restore trust in the police and that we continue to build on the progress we have made in tackling violent crime across our city.”
“The role of Commissioner is to lead the Metropolitan Police Service in keeping Londoners safe. The Met is operationally independent but gives due regard to the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan for the provision of policing in London,” said Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick.
“Over the course of the last Plan, the men and women of the Met have worked hard to keep London safe. Last year compared to before the pandemic, murders were down by 13%, knife crime with injury was down 20%, and the number of young people being stabbed was down 27%. Met officers seized almost two thirds of the guns seized nationally and gun crime was down 35%. From 2018 we have delivered sustained reductions in violent crime following many years of increases.
“We reintroduced dedicated ward officers with PCSOs in all 629 wards to help us to connect further with neighbourhoods and tackle local problems. We are boosting local presence with Town Centre Teams in areas where they are needed most. Our Predatory Offender Units have arrested thousands of high harm offenders who pose a risk to vulnerable adults or children. And officers have continued to bear down on County Lines, gangs, drug dealers and organised crime – while safeguarding those who the criminals exploit.”
Thanks to a relentless effort by police and record funding from City Hall, violent crime continues to fall—but there is still more to do. Today, my latest Police & Crime Plan outlines how we’ll continue to be tough on crime and its causes, keep our city safe and support victims:
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) March 24, 2022
Cllr Jas Athwal, London Councils’ Executive member for Crime and Public Protection, said: “London needs a police service that is fair, trusted, diverse and effective. We welcome the new Plan’s expectations on radically improving the Metropolitan Police’s culture and practices to urgently build back trust and confidence, particularly among women and ethnic minority communities.
“London boroughs are a key partner of the Metropolitan Police when it comes to cracking down on crime and I welcome improvements to collaborative working and the Basic Command Unit (BCU) structure.
“Reducing and preventing violence is a top priority for boroughs right across London, especially tackling violence against women and girls, and it is positive to see this reflected in the Plan. An increased emphasis on understanding and tackling the underlying causes of drug-related crime – which can have a devastating impact on communities – is also promising.”
Claire Waxman, London’s Independent Victim Commissioner said: “I strongly welcome the Mayor’s new Police & Crime Plan, which rightly prioritises the rights and needs of victims. It is now more important than ever that victims receive the right treatment and can easily access effective support, to help them navigate the complex justice system and ensure they can make informed decisions.
“I am also pleased to see clear acknowledgement that public trust and confidence have been damaged and urgently need to be rebuilt. It is crucial for the individual wellbeing and protection of victims and for wider public safety that victims feel able to come forward to report and the Mayor’s new Police & Crime Plan will help us achieve this in London.”
The enlarged zone is an extension of what was the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covering mainly central London, reports Asian Lite News
Europe’s biggest ultra-low emission zone, spanning about 380 square km of London, has come into operation.
Around 3.8 million people live within the zone which extends to the north and south circular roads around the British capital, reports Xinhua news agnecy.
London City Hall expects around 110,000 vehicles are likely to pay a 12.50 pounds ($17.22) charge for driving within the new zone.
Drivers who don’t pay face a penalty charge of 160 pounds, reduced to half if paid within 14 days.
The enlarged zone is an extension of what was the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covering mainly central London.
NEW: Our world-leading Ultra Low Emission Zone has now expanded – helping get polluting vehicles off our roads & bringing cleaner air to millions of Londoners.
Every single Londoner deserves to breathe clean air – and this is a landmark day for our city.pic.twitter.com/SGS70SZfwf
A City Hall spokesperson said: “The new zone covers one quarter of London and is the largest zone of its kind in Europe. It will bring the health benefits of cleaner air to millions more Londoners. The scheme will operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day.”
The ULEZ is also a crucial step towards London’s ambitions to tackle the climate emergency and put the city on the path to be a net zero carbon city by 2030.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “This is a landmark day for our city. Expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone today will clean up London’s toxic air pollution and help tackle the global climate emergency by reducing emissions.
(Photo: Twitter@MayorofLondon)
“In central London, the ULEZ has already helped cut toxic roadside nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half and led to reductions that are five times greater than the national average. But pollution isn’t just a central London problem, which is why expanding the ULEZ today will benefit Londoners across the whole of the city and is a crucial step in London’s green recovery from this pandemic.”
According to Khan, pollution leads to 4,000 London residents dying early each year and children in the capital growing up with stunted lungs.
Khan has provided 61 million pounds in funding for grants for small businesses, charities operating minibuses, and low-income and disabled Londoners to scrap older, more polluting vehicles.
It took decades before action was taken to protect children from toxic cigarette smoke.
We can't make the same mistakes by turning a blind eye to the evidence showing the dangers of toxic air pollution.
Sarah Woolnough, CEO of the charities Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation welcomed the move.
“Whilst this is a huge step in the right direction, we mustn’t be complacent against this invisible threat. The fact of the matter remains that the majority of people living in London, are still living in areas where pollution levels are dangerously high.”
Alex Williams, TfL’s Director of City Planning, said: “London’s toxic air is a crisis that requires bold action right now. The expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone is vital if we are to help prevent more premature deaths and serious health conditions, as well as tackle the pressing issue of the climate emergency. The central ULEZ that launched in April 2019 was a world first and has already seen harmful nitrogen dioxide slashed by 44 per cent. Today’s expansion of the zone will see the whole city breathing cleaner air.
(Photo: Twitter@MayorofLondon)
“More than 20 million motorists have already checked the compliance of their vehicle since 2018, and if you still unsure please use our checker. We are now seeing 87 per cent vehicles in the zone meeting the standard, this is much than we would have expected if the scheme hadn’t been introduced, and it highlights how the scheme has already been effective in cleaning up London’s air. For those liable for the charge, we would ask them to consider walking and cycling where possible, or using public transport. If they do need to drive, car clubs with ULEZ-compliant vehicles, or switching to a cleaner vehicle, are the best options.”
Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, founder of the Ella Roberta Family Foundation and World Health Organization Advocate for Health and Clean Air, said: “The coroner’s inquest into my daughter Ella’s death made clear that all levels of government must work to get dirty cars off the road, to protect human health. Children suffer the most from air pollution, as their lungs develop until they are ten. The ULEZ is helping to clean up the air that London’s children breathe from the moment they step out of their homes.”
(Photo: Twitter@MayorofLondon)
Anjali Raman-Middleton, 17, Co-founder of Choked Up, said: “We’ve already seen the impact that the ULEZ has had on our air and are thrilled to be supporting its expansion. This is a significant step in cleaning our air and meeting London’s target of carbon-neutrality by 2030. Whilst there is still work to be done to ensure that every Londoner breathes easy, ULEZ expansion will improve the health of millions.”
Jordan Cummins, CBI London Head of Policy, said: “The CBI recognises and welcomes the Mayor’s continued commitment to improving London’s air quality. The extension of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone comes at a critical moment, as the UK hosts COP26, and the capital continues to set a world-leading example to global cities on emissions reduction. To achieve this, with business as a partner, it is also critical that we look to secure a cohesive London-wide set of clean air policies – supporting consumers and businesses to make the shift to cleaner vehicles and delivering the charging and refuelling infrastructure that is required to reach the capital’s net zero ambitions.”
(Photo: Twitter)
Professor Sir Stephen T Holgate, MRC Clinical Professor at Southampton, UKRI Clean Air Champion and Special Advisor to the RCP on Air Quality, said: “Air pollution is a scourge on society, especially harming the young and old as well as those with pre-existing diseases. With the expansion of the ULEZ today, the Mayor of London has taken a vital step that will deliver major reductions in toxic pollutants across London. Reductions that will have significant benefits for the health of all Londoners.”
Jane Burston, Executive Director, Clean Air Fund, said: “London continues to be a world leader in developing and implementing ground-breaking clean air policies, designed to improve the health of everyone who lives, works and learns in the city. Where London leads, others will follow. We look forward to seeing more cities in the UK and around the world, inspired by London’s can-do attitude, introducing similar schemes to make our cities healthier, happier places in which to live and grow.”
(Photo: Twitter@MayorofLondon)
Simon Birkett, Founder and Director of Clean Air in London, said: “The ULEZ expansion is a vital step on the path to achieving zero tailpipe emissions from vehicles and a beacon of hope in the days before COP26.”
Richard Dilks, Chief Executive of CoMoUK said: “The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone is a symbiotic fit with shared transport options such as car clubs, bike and e scooter share schemes as they all enable Londoners to step away from car ownership. Doing that cuts people’s transport emissions and costs while cleaning up London’s air and delivering more liveable neighbourhoods.”
