Hounslow Council, a Labour-run local authority in London, has been accused of hypocrisy for seeking an exemption for 400 of its own vehicles from Sadiq Khan’s contentious plan to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) while supporting the proposal.
The council had written to the Mayor of London, expressing concerns about the deadline of August 2023 for all vehicles to comply with Ulez regulations.
Failure to comply would lead to a daily £12.50 fee for operating a vehicle inside the designated region without fulfilling the emissions standards.
The council’s deputy leader, Katherine Dunne, stated that the financial pressure would be immense if the council were subject to Ulez penalties.
Conservative councillor Jack Emsley called out the council’s move, stating that it was one rule for the Hounslow Labour party and another rule for the rest of London.
Meanwhile, the Ulez expansion has been criticised, with many people set to pay a charge when it hits wider parts of London in August.
