Cllr Jose Afonso is the Leader of the Conservative Group on Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
ULEZ has dominated London politics for over a decade. But since its expansion two years ago, the anger voters felt against ULEZ has steadily declined.
The Conservatives were right to stand against the expansion of ULEZ, but it is important to recognise that the debate has moved on.
It is now time for the Conservatives to offer our own solutions to tackle air pollution and fill the gaps in London’s transport network – not in the top-down, expensive, nanny-state way Sadiq Khan has done and which voters loathe – but in a sensible, realistic, conservative way, that can help us finally take back London from Labour.
There is also a critical health angle to this. Air pollution contributes to roughly 4,000 deaths per year across Greater London, whilst shortening Londoners’ lives on average by 1.8 years. Air pollution also significantly restricts London’s productivity and growth; a meaningful approach to improving air quality could generate an extra £500 million per year for our city’s economy.
Perhaps most importantly, voters recognise and care about air pollution, with over two-thirds of Londoners expressing concerns about its impacts on their health and local economy.
Let me be crystal clear – constantly expanding ULEZ is not the answer. It is unpopular, unappealing and unconservative. It restricts choice, neglecting local differences in transport access and requirements, while simultaneously increasing taxes and regulation.
Instead we need a conservative, popular answer to reduce air pollution. Rather than restricting and penalising people with costly taxes and overbearing regulations, we must lay out pragmatic, cost-effective alternatives that empower everyone to make cleaner choices. Whether it is bikes, electric vehicles (EVs), or an expanded and less-polluting public transport network, the impact will be felt with increased productivity, voter satisfaction, and cleaner air.
We could start by making it more accessible to take the Tube at night by expanding the Night Tube to Thursdays. This is something Westminster Conservatives have already called for, reflecting shifting commuter patterns after the pandemic.
Additionally, expanding Tube access must go hand in hand with improving air quality underground. Levels of dangerous particulate matter are up to 15 times higher underground than above ground, so modernising ventilation systems, enhancing the cleaning of tunnels, and introducing new braking systems are essential to tackle air pollution.
We should also expand active transport options. This would involve expanding cycling and walking infrastructure by providing secure cycle storage and well-lit routes, allowing people to feel safer. Sadiq Khan has been unable to achieve this, instead promoting dangerous floating bus stops and failing to tackle rampant bike theft making cycling less appealing.
Finally, we need to improve London’s EV charging infrastructure. When in power in Westminster, Conservatives made significant progress by partnering with Siemens and Ubitricity to build over a thousand shared power supply EV charging points. The policy was so successful that it was continued when the council shifted to Labour control. This is an example of conservative principles delivering.
Sadiq Khan describes himself as an air pollution champion. However, his heavy-handed policies have failed to tackle the root of the issue. ULEZ has done little to reduce traffic congestion, with bus speeds dropping annually, excluding during the pandemic, with overall traffic congestion levels at a shocking 32 per cent. Additionally, his progress to meet the target of 80 per cent of journeys done by walking, cycling or public transport by 2041 has stalled, with figures hovering around 65 per cent for most of the last decade.
In his role as Chair of TfL, he has failed to clamp down on Tube fare dodging, deterring passengers with increasing fares and reducing available funds to extend lines. Khan must also do more to leverage private finance into Tube extensions by capturing some of the value uplift on old TfL land from improved transport infrastructure. Line extensions are critical to addressing the lack of public transport in outer London, and supporting Londoners to pick the most convenient way to travel. This must be coupled with building more gentle density developments near train stations to ease the housing crisis while enabling more people to live near low polluting transport.
Londoners want fair and effective action on air pollution, but not in a way that will penalise them. Conservatives must hold Sadiq Khan accountable, while presenting an alternative that cuts red tape, supports choice, and allows people and businesses new ways to benefit from reducing air pollution.
We have an opportunity to flip air pollution on its head, and champion a cleaner, more appealing and productive London by providing more reliable, cheaper and less-polluting transport choices to unlock our city for our residents.
Let us return to our conservative roots, and turn Sadiq Khan’s air pollution campaign against him, while delivering for Londoners.
