Sir Keir Starmer has heaped pressure on Sadiq Khan to scrap his ultra low emission zone (Ulez) expansion after the policy was blamed for losing the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election.

The Opposition leader warned his party must “learn the lesson” of the defeat as he called on the London Mayor to “reflect” on his plans to apply a charge for the most polluting vehicles to all boroughs of the captial.

Both Labour and the Tories are coming under pressure to reconsider their green policies in the wake of the Uxbridge result.

While Labour considers the impact Ulez may have at the next election, Tory MPs have pointed to the unexpected by-election win as proof that Rishi Sunak should scale back on the Government’s net zero plans.

[It’s absolutely hilarious that the guy – Starmer – who wants to shut down all the oil and gas exploration and new drilling in the North Sea is suddenly spooked by a local election loss when a truly restrictive measure – Sadiq Khan’s horrid emission tax on vehicles in London – is actually a consideration on the ballot and they lose. Then foaming at the mouth climate cultists are all “WHOA WHOA WHOA, you’re doing it wrong!,” when actually, no. It’s your fascist playbook in action, dude. ~ Beege]