ULEZ: Sadiq Khan under investigation following allegations he lied about consultation

An independent investigation has been opened into allegations Sadiq Khan broke City Hall code of conduct rules on multiple occasions when discussing the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) consultation.

Nick Rogers, a Conservative London Assembly Member (AM) and short-lived Tory mayoral candidate, filed three complaints against Mr Khan on January 16 this year.

The first two - that the mayor made false and dishonest, and misleading, statements - have since been submitted by the monitoring officer to be investigated further.

A third, that the mayor’s staff improperly used Greater London Authority (GLA) resources to skew the consultation results, has not.

All three claims relate to the 10-week consultation held last year into the ULEZ expansion, and the extent to which Mr Khan was aware of the responses.

Mr Rogers claims that Mr Khan was dishonest when, at mayor’s question time on October 13 2022 and a London Assembly Plenary meeting on November 17 the same year, he said he had not been briefed on the results ahead of their publication.

He is further accused of making misleading statements on the same topic at the two events, as well as a People’s Question Time in Redbridge on November 2.

The decision to investigate the complaints does not imply wrongdoing, with no decision yet made. Two previous complaints raised against Mr Khan on the Elizabeth line opening and the resignation of the previous police commissioner, Cressida Dick, were not upheld.

The ULEZ was expanded on August 29 to cover the whole of greater London. The move was criticsed largely due to concerns about its implementation during a cost-of-living crisis, with the mayor even coming under fire from some within his own party, including the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The expansion receive backing from groups including doctors, environmental campaigners and others worried about the capital’s air quality.

Mr Rogers said: “I believe the evidence clearly shows that the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan made misleading statements to the Assembly and to Londoners over the ULEZ expansion consultation; specifically that he told us repeatedly that he had no knowledge of how it was progressing.

“The City Hall monitoring officer has now taken forward the complaint I made against Sadiq Khan over his conduct during the implementation of his London-wide ULEZ expansion. Londoners will feel vindicated that the complaint made against the mayor is being taken seriously and will be independently investigated.

“He should now do the right thing, listen to Londoners and cancel his ULEZ expansion immediately.”

A spokesperson for Mr Khan said: “The expanded ULEZ will bring cleaner air to five million more people and will save lives and protect children’s lungs.

“The mayor has always been clear that expanding the ULEZ was a difficult but necessary decision, and he’s been listening closely to those with concerns.

“That’s why he’s expanded the scrappage scheme to ensure any Londoner affected is eligible to apply for thousands of pounds in help.

“The mayor looks forward to the outcome of the monitoring officer’s investigation.”