There is a wind of revolt blowing through Wallington. Megaphones in hand, dressed in yellow vests, around thirty demonstrators braved the drizzle and the wind on this April morning to gather at the call of the collective “Stop Ulez”. The well-known acronym of Londoners (for “ultra low emission zone”) is displayed in large format on their red bus parked for the occasion in the city center of this town in a large suburb of London, approximately 17 km from the center of the capital.
“Stop this Kharnage,” says another banner under their marquee, in reference to the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who is behind the extension of the “low emissions zone” (ZFE) to the entire metropolis. London. Since August 2023, any polluting car must pay a penalty of 12.50 pounds (15 euros) per day of circulation, including in a town like Wallington, certainly served by buses, but where the Train only passes every thirty minutes.
Roots of discontent
“There are many people who cannot change cars and who simply stay locked in their homes. They have to rely on their friends to do their shopping or go to the doctor. When you’re struggling to make ends meet, you can’t take a taxi or an Uber,” says Nick Arlett.
This retired mason, at the origin of numerous demonstrations against Ulez, has brought together more than 30,000 people on his Facebook group. “The situation particularly affects low incomes and those who have their small businesses,” explains John, a supporter of the movement.
His neighbor, Keith, explains that he started participating in gatherings at the time of Covid. At first, it was to protest against health restrictions, but the protest extended to anti-pollution measures. “All this is a loss of freedom, a way of controlling people,” he said.
In Wallington, Ulez’s rejection can be measured by the sound of horns as the banners approach. And there are many motorists who show their sympathy, especially when they are behind the wheel of an old van.
Confrontation line
The London ZFE has established itself as one of the main lines of confrontation in the campaign for the municipal elections, between the incumbent mayor, Labor Sadiq Khan, champion of the fight against pollution, and his Conservative opponent, Susan Hall , who posed as a defender of motorists and purchasing power.
Last summer, Ulez turned the tide of an election in the town of Uxbridge, where former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s seat was up for grabs. Against all odds, the Tories narrowly retained that seat. . “We were told we had no chance of winning this election, but the subject ‘Ulez’ kept coming up door to door,” recalls Martin Goddard, elected to the town council of Hillingdon, where Uxbridge is located.
Polluting vehicles have already been penalized in central London since 2019. But what ignited the powder was the extension of the ZFE to areas with less density of public transport. “In our area it’s convenient if you’re going into central London, but as soon as you go north, south or west you need your car,” says Martin Goddard.
Additionally, the proximity to Heathrow Airport and three motorways makes local residents feel that their efforts will make little contribution to air quality. “Ultimately, people perceive Ulez as just a tax. They know well that Sadiq Khan has a heavy deficit to bear in London transport,” continues the elected Conservative. To the point of triggering a wave of vandalism against the cameras identifying the registrations of non-compliant vehicles.
“Trumpist” approach
According to data obtained by the BBC, the extension of the EPZ would have brought in 130 million pounds in six months, a figure which includes fines and daily fees paid. London City Hall ensures that these sums are reinvested in transport and a scrappage bonus for vehicles that pollute too much.
Mayor Sadiq Khan responded to attacks from his opponent, Susan Hall, who he accuses of having “a Trumpist approach to the climate crisis”. He regularly insists that 95% of vehicles that comply with standards can still be on the road. The solution has not been found for the remaining 5%, often belonging to the elderly, the most deprived, and artisans.
Is this enough to swing the election in London this May 2? Not sure that the “Uxbridge effect”, on which Susan Hall is counting to close the gap with Sadiq Khan, will be reproduced on a metropolitan scale. “This is a divisive subject in opinion: our last poll in October 2023 shows that Londoners in favor of Ulez were as numerous as those opposed to it,” observes Elizabeth Simon, researcher at Queen Mary University in London. This will be different from Uxbridge, where the majority of voters take their car every day. »