ULEZ: Samuel Kasumu on stopping Sadiq Khan’s emissions zone expansion

Conservative mayoral hopeful Samuel Kasumu says he is just as passionate about cleaning up London’s air as Sadiq Khan but is wholeheartedly against the ULEZ expansion.

The 35-year-old former Downing Street advisor to Boris Johnson says if he is elected as mayor of London he would offer boroughs affected by the ULEZ scheme the chance to vote on whether to remain in the zone or not.

Kasumu announced his campaign to become the Conservative candidate for mayor of London in early September 2022 and has since received backing from three senior Tories; Grant Shapps, Steve Baker and Priti Patel.

Kasumu, who grew up in Barnet, one of the boroughs the ULEZ is expanding to, says for those not able to afford a new vehicle, it will be a disaster.

Labour mayor Mr Khan intends to expand London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover the entirety of Greater London.

Last month, a High Court judge decided five Conservative-led councils could challenge the plan.

If it goes ahead, the ULEZ expansion will see drivers in outer London pay a £12.50 daily fee from 29 August if their vehicles do not meet required emissions standards.

Kasumu, who is currently a councillor and executive member for the environment and climate change in Welwyn and Hatfield, Hertfordshire, said: “The challenge of ULEZ is first and foremost Sadiq doesn’t have a mandate for ULEZ, in my opinion.

“It wasn’t in his manifesto the ULEZ expansion and there are some very serious questions around the consultation that Sadiq carried out.

“Every mayor to be successful needs to have really big deliverables and I think part of Sadiq’s ULEZ expansion is he’s looking for that legacy piece.”

Unlike the central London ultra-low emissions zone, the outer London expansion covers areas with poorer public transport.

“This is going to have a significant impact on the most vulnerable people in our capital but also care workers and nurses who live outside London,” he said.

“If you’re a care worker and commuting in from Kent to look after people in London you’re going to have to pay an extra £12.50 and of course you don’t have access to the scrappage scheme.

“I am just as passionate as Sadiq Khan about trying to make sure we have cleaner air and we deal with the challenges around how we achieve net zero.

“I know there’s plenty more we can do around the decarbonisation of buildings, eliminating or reducing food waste, behavioural change across the board, and so on and so that I will have a comprehensive plan for how we build on the work that’s already been done.

“Clearly ULEZ is going to be a big battleground subject next year and we’re going to need to make sure we have a clear position.”

So far it’s just Kasumu, City Hall transport spokesman Nick Rogers and London Assembly member Andrew Boff who have declared themselves as possible Conservative candidates for the May 2024 elections.

Minister for London, and Sutton and Cheam MP, Paul Scully has said he is “seriously considering” entering the race