A British Army veteran last week launched a seven-day hunger strike to protest London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s expanding ULEZ climate mandates which have sparked growing unrest.
Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZs) are areas in London accessible only to low-emission vehicles. Cars that do not meet the city’s environmental standards are charged £12.50 ($16) for entering the ULEZ. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras positioned around the zones read license plates and check them against the vehicles’ make and model in real time. If a vehicle does not meet the environmental threshold, the fine is levied against the car owner. Failure to pay can lead to fines as high as £258 ($331).
Nearly half of London’s residents — over four million people — now live in ULEZs, which cover the North and South Circular Roads. By August 29th, the ULEZ will expand to encompass all London boroughs, drawing heavy protests from residents as reports of small businesses shutting down because of climate mandates grow.
Cab driver and army veteran Prabhdeep Singh last Sunday started a seven-day hunger strike to draw attention to the climate mandate.
"ULEZ is an extra burden on people when they are already battling against the cost of living crisis and food poverty," Singh told ITV News London. "We don't need it either, particularly in this area. That's why I am fighting against it—stop the expansion!
"I will starve myself for seven days and that's long enough to get my message across and the attention of people.”
Singh’s strike comes as many Londoners refuse to pay ULEZ climate fines, bucking hundreds of thousands of pounds in penalties. Some have even removed the ANPR cameras installed to monitor vehicles, which Transport for London (TfL) says also serve as security cameras for law enforcement to “prevent and detect crime.” Over 300 ULEZ cameras have been installed so far, and Mayor Sadiq Khan plans to install 2,750 more around outer London. At least 31 incidents of vandalism of ULEZ cameras have been reported in proposed expansion zones since March 21st, and at least 12 in current zones.
Some local councils have joined the revolt and notified Mayor Khan that they will not allow TfL to erect ULEZ signage or cameras in their jurisdictions.
“I have made our position clear to Transport for London that we oppose the introduction of ULEZ and will not allow signs for it be put up in Thurrock,” Thurrock Councillor Andrew Jefferies said.
A spokesman for Kent County Council (KCC) said, “The authority will continue to block ULEZ warning signs from being placed on KCC’s infrastructure. KCC has not been contacted about the installation of ANPR cameras on its infrastructure but, if it were asked, this would be refused.”
Hertfordshire Councillor Richard Roberts notified Khan in a letter that “Hertfordshire County Council will not permit any ULEZ signage or enforcement cameras to be located within the boundary of the county.”
Buckinghamshire was the most recent council to refuse TfL, according to MyLondon.
Even some of Khan’s fellow Labour Party members have warned against expanding ULEZ, which they blame for a recent election loss for the party.
Labour candidates narrowly lost to Right-leaning Tory Party members in two special elections last month despite expectations of a decisive Labour victory. Uxbridge and South Ruislip, where the elections were held, are boroughs in Outer London where car dependency is high.
