New petrol and diesel charge will ‘hit the poorest’ and ‘low income families’

London’s new Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) will ‘hit low-income’ petrol and diesel owners in a stark warning to motorists just weeks before the scheme launches. Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK and Reform UK’s London mayoral candidate has warned the system will affect the ‘poorest’ on the road. Sadiq Khan’s scheme will be expanded out to Outer London boroughs from August 29 after a High Court ruled the policy lawful. ULEZ is currently operated between the North and South Circulars but the new territory will expand the scheme around five miles further. It means Greater London areas such as Hillingdon, Harrow, Bromley and Bexley will start paying charges in just four weeks. Howard Cox has warned ‘low income families’ will be hit with the new charge (Image: Talk TV / Getty) Speaking to Talk TV, Cox said: ‘I’m sorry the quality of cars and what they emit have improved year by year by year. HGVs for instance, big trucks, in the last ten years have halved their emissions. ‘What we should allow is not to have draconian bans or hit people in the pocket, we should actually incentivise clean fuel technology. ‘I like electric vehicles, I want clean air to breathe but we don’t need to do it by hitting people in the pocket. The point is we need to work together, we do not need this divisive approach. ‘I’m afraid it hits the motorist, it hits the poorest, it hits low-income families and it also hits sole traders like electricians. What we need to do is work together on clean fuel technology.’ Londoners have protested against the new ULEZ expansion (Image: Getty) London’s ULEZ scheme operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week except for Christmas Day. It means motorists who use drive non-compliant petrol and diesel cars every day will be forced to pay £87.50 per week or around £375 a month. The ULEZ’s future was decided in court after five Conservative councils had fought a campaign against the system. The Tories also used ULEZ as an election tool in Uxbridge where they narrowly held on to Boris Johnson’s former seat in a recent by-election. Cox and Reform UK will be standing to get rid of the entire ULEZ scheme across London at the next Mayoral elections in 2024. He commented: ‘I have to say The Tories should have been smashed in Uxbridge but they weren’t because there is only one story in town. ULEZ. “Everyone was against the ULEZ expansion, even a lot of Labour voters, even a lot of Green people I spoke to as well. Fundamentally what we need to do is work together to make this happen rather than hit people in the pocket.’