ULEZ: Independent mayoral candidate Natalie Campbell pledges expansion reversal review

Independent mayoral candidate Natalie Campbell MBE launched her campaign this week, promising to match Sadiq Khan’s pledge to build 40,000 council homes by 2030.

The CEO and university chancellor has also pledged to end youth homelessness and to open 320 new neighbourhood centres.

She vowed to “review the cost-benefit” of removing the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in outer London and to refund ULEZ payments to essential workers and small business owners.

Speaking at her launch in Borough Yards, Ms Campbell said: “I love London, but London has lost its vibe and its thing. London feels hard, and for some people it feels easier to leave than to believe things will get better.”

She cited Child Q as the heart of her motivation to become mayor and said her “day one priority would be to end the use of strip search in schools”.

“Any mayor that allows a child to lose hope because they are looking the other way and sitting on their hands is not a mayor that deserves to be in power,” she said.

Ms Campbell, who pledges to take a “CEO’s approach” to running London created her manifesto on the back of her What London Wants survey.

She said she wants to mobilise the 58% of Londoners who did not vote in the last mayoral election.

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Safer streets and local police

Ms Campbell, who is chancellor of the University of Westminster and co-CEO of bottled water company Belu, has pledged to have a “laser focus on mending the fractured trust between the Met police and communities”.

She has promised to open 320 new neighbourhood centres on high streets and to reallocate parts of the Metropolitan Police budget to establish more services and centres for young people.

She has called for tech companies to add warnings/block videos showing serious acts of violence.

Transport

The Independent candidate has promised to demand the government finish HS2 into Euston and underwrite the costs in lieu of any private sector investment.

She pledged to review the Bakerloo line extension, linking south-east London to the tube network by extending it from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham and potentially beyond.

She has promised to reinstate 30mph speed limits on Transport for London (TfL) roads and to Speed up accessibility access at all TfL stations.

ULEZ

Ms Campbell says she would review the cost-benefit of removing the ULEZ in outer London, prioritising the protection of budgets like free school meals. 

“If ULEZ can be cancelled, it will be done in the first six months of taking office. In the meantime, essential workers will be given exemptions,” she said.

Other policies

Ms Campbell has pledged to create two mayoral development corporations with a focus on sustainable build-to-rent properties.

She has promised to offer a deputy mayor role to the Green Party – to act as the representative for the environment and climate resilience in London.

In total, 13 candidates are standing for the office of mayor of London for the next four years.

The London mayoral election is on May 2, along with elections to the London Assembly. Voters are reminded they need photo ID following the introduction of new legislation.