Opened the debate
The Mayor of London’s financial stability plan proposes a charge of £3.50 per day for all motorists using vehicles registered outside Greater London, rising to £5.50 for more polluting vehicles. The proposal would have detrimental impacts on outer London boroughs and surrounding areas like Dartford, affecting businesses such as dry cleaners, pubs, takeaways, shops, hairdressers, and others already suffering from the coronavirus epidemic. Despite claims that this is necessary to offset £500 million of road tax Londoners pay out each year, the Mayor’s approach is divisive, punitive, aggressive, and unfair. Pollution in London is worst around airports and central areas; thus, targeting outer London makes no sense. The proposal would also affect frontline workers living outside London who commute into the city for work. This charge represents taxation without representation as those affected cannot vote or hold accountable the Mayor of London.