Like many Conservative MP’s with constituencies bordering London, Dean Russell MP for Watford vehemently opposed the London Mayor’s unjustified extension of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across all London boroughs in August last year. However, Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat London Assembly Members supported this scheme, and appear to have no regard for the huge impact it is having on hard working people.
Gareth Johnson MP for Dartford recently introduced a Bill which would give the Secretary of State the power to overturn decisions made by the Mayor of London regarding transport and air quality, such as the expansion of ULEZ. Dean strongly supported the Bill today during its second reading, alongside colleagues and the Conservative Government. However, Labour MPs actively sought to block the passage of the Bill and undermine attempts for a full debate, further highlighting their disregard for the interests of constituents. Labour MP’s spoke at length, including a 33 minute speech, to ensure the Bill ran out of Parliamentary time. No Liberal Democrat MPs were in the Chamber and it is not clear if they would have supported the Bill.
To ensure hard working people were not unfairly charged for travelling to work or visiting family members, Dean led the campaign against the Mayor’s proposed ‘border tax’ in 2021 which would have charged to cross the Greater London Authority boundary. Dean immediately wrote to Sadiq Khan on behalf of his concerned constituents with the support of several colleagues who signed the open letter. Thankfully, the Labour Mayor scrapped the proposal, however the ULEZ expansion has been criticised as a further attempt to raise funds for TfL’s poor finances after many government bailouts.
Dean has consistently spoken out against ULEZ and its expansion to the borders of Hertfordshire. From August 2023, an additional 200,000 cars and vans became liable for the £12.50 daily charge or risked facing a hefty fine of £180. It is estimated around 2,700 drivers a day have been fined soon after the expansion, with TfL’s own reports showing 57,200 drivers paying the daily charge in September, raising an estimated £715,000 a day. It is clear this is just another money-making scheme in the name of environmental protections.
A study by Imperial College London in 2021 concluded the ULEZ had “caused only small improvements” and on its own was not an effective strategy to improve air quality.
Following the debate today, Dean said, ‘Many will be aware of my public opposition to the London Mayor’s many tax grabbing schemes. I initially lead the campaign against his proposed border tax, which would have charged people to cross into the Greater London Authority, and I have continuously opposed the expansion of ULEZ.
I am disappointed the Opposition used up all of the debate time today to try and talk this bill out. On behalf of all the hardworking people of Watford, all the people who have to go into London to do their jobs, who go to work at the hospital, all the entertainers and the musicians who want to go in and work. I back this bill on their behalf’.
