Protesters have staged a demonstration outside Sadiq Khan‘s home as the campaign against the London Mayor’s Ultra-low Emissions Zone (Ulez) expansion intensifies.
Furious drivers set up tents and signs outside the property in south London – with one bringing a caravan with the words ‘Sack Khan’ and ‘No To Ulez’ on it.
The Action Against Ulez organisation was out in force wearing hi-vis jackets for the ‘all weekender’ which they described as a ‘hunger strike and protest’.
Signs plastered on vehicles parked outside on Saturday and Sunday said ‘are you listening yet Mr Khan’; ‘Ulez expansion justified with lies’; and ‘stop the toxic air lie’.
Further messages said ‘resist, defy, do not comply’ and ‘every penny they can screw you for matters to TfL [Transport for London] and the Dictator of London’.
Furious drivers set up tents and signs outside the Mayor of London’s home in South London
The anti-Ulez campaigners are staging a protest in South London outside Sadiq Khan’s house
The Action Against Ulez organisation have put up slogans and placards in South London
Others set up tents outside and branded Ulez cameras designed to catch drivers out as ‘scameras’ as they demanded the Labour politician steps down as Mayor.
READ MORE Moment Ulez crew is chased off by furious locals – as ‘activists’ continue to sabotage cameras
In a post on social media, the group described the protest as a street party and asked for anyone to ‘get down here and join the fun’.
Also over the weekend, furious locals in Biggin Hill chased away a Ulez crew, some of whom were driving the mobile ‘spy’ vans used to enforce the scheme.
It comes after Mr Khan expanded Ulez to cover Greater London on August 29, making the capital the world’s largest pollution charging area.
People who drive in the zone in a vehicle not meeting minimum emissions standards must pay a £12.50 daily fee or risk a £180 fine, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Mr Khan has faced strong opposition with regular protests held in central London and anti-Ulez vigilantes targeting enforcement cameras installed in the new areas.
People described as Blade Runners have been filmed cutting the Ulez cameras’ wires or completely removing the devices.
Ulez expansion has also become a major political issue, being blamed for Labour’s failure to win the Uxbridge and South Ruislip parliamentary by-election in July.
But Mr Khan has defended the zone and set up a scheme enabling residents, small businesses, sole traders and charities scrapping non-compliant cars to claim grants.
Mayor Sadiq Khan expanded the zone to cover the whole of Greater London on August 29
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, pictured in Croydon last Friday, has vigorously defended Ulez
And TfL says all revenue is reinvested into running and improving the capital’s transport network, such as expanding bus routes in outer London.
TfL has also said nine out of ten cars seen driving in outer London on an average day meet the Ulez standards, so are not liable for the charge.
But Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures obtained by the RAC showed 691,559 licensed cars in the whole of London are likely to be non-compliant.
This does not take into account other vehicles such as vans and lorries, or vehicles which enter London from neighbouring counties such as Essex and Hertfordshire.
