SADIQ Khan’s hated anti-car crackdown is now even being attacked by top Labour politicians.
Four party MPs yesterday broke cover to slam the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone as a gut punch for hard-pressed drivers.
The London Mayor is dramatically increasing the area motorists are charged £12.50 a day to cover the whole capital.
It has sparked uproar in the city as Brits grapple with the cost of living crisis and relentless strikes.
Labour’s Jon Cruddas last night slammed Mr Khan’s eco policy as “another unwelcome hit on working people”.
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Shadow Treasury Minister Abena Oppong-Asare feared “a situation where people are going to be worse off”.
Fellow Labour frontbencher Seema Malhotra told LBC: “Whilst I share the goal of reducing pollution and increasing air quality, I am very concerned about the economic impact the current roll-out plans will have on residents and small businesses.”
And London Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh also expressed reservations about the expansion.
The Mayor believes that the charge will drive down air pollution rates in the capital.
But the leader of Bromley council Colin Smith told TalkTV yesterday: "There isn't a problem with air quality in Bromley, this is just a tax raid pure and simple".
A source close to Mr Khan said: "The Mayor has been clear the decision to expand ULEZ was not an easy one, but necessary to protect the health of Londoners and tackle the climate emergency.
"Health experts agree toxic air is a public health crisis. Polluted air is stunting the lungs of children, leading to life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, dementia and asthma, and resulting in around 4,000 Londoners dying prematurely every year."
