London mayor election 2024: Sadiq Khan's Labour reports Tories to CPS over 'fake motoring charges'

Labour says it has referred the Conservatives to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over campaign materials ahead of the London mayoral election on May 2.

The party has asked the CPS whether “scaremongering” flyers made to look like penalty charge notices are not properly labelled as political advertising, as required by law.

Sadiq Khan has ruled out introducing pay-per-mile roads charging while he is mayor, but materials supporting Tory candidate Susan Hall suggest charges are in his plans.

Labour says “fake notices” have been circulated, which “are designed to lure voters into to opening them, thinking they fake motoring charges”.

It says they instead contain election literature for the “hard-right Tory mayoral candidate, Susan Hall”.

Labour’s letter to the CPS suggests the materials constitute “corrupt practice” under electoral law by “causing or threatening to cause financial loss to a person”.

A spokesperson for Ms Hall’s campaign dismissed the claims as “desperate nonsense from Sadiq Khan's campaign”.

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Karen Buck MP, chair of Mr Khan’s campaign, said: “We’re now seeing tactics being used by the Tories which rival even those used in their disgraced 2016 mayoral campaign.

“The Tories are scaremongering people who are already worried about their bills thanks to the catastrophic cost-of-living crisis they created. These tactics are legally questionable, and certainly mark another low in this desperate Tory campaign characterised by dirty tactics and lies.

“Sadiq has ruled out ever bringing in pay per mile as long as he’s mayor – no ifs, no buts."

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A spokesperson for the Conservative campaign for candidate Susan Hall said: "This is desperate nonsense from Sadiq Khan's campaign, intended to distract from his plans to hit every single family in our city with a pay-per-mile charge.

 “It’s a plan he’s so proud of, he gloated about in his book and has legally committed transport for London to deliver. Londoners will see through this; Sadiq Khans' record of dishonesty speaks for itself.”

The CPS has received Labour’s letters and is considering its contents. The CPS does not investigate alleged offences or make judgements, but does provide expert legal advice early in investigations.