Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sadiq Khan says the congestion charge plan will have a 'devastating effect' on London’s diverse communities

LONDON MAYOR Sadiq Khan on Wednesday(28) said that he would not accept the damaging government proposal to widen the congestion charge zone as would have a 'devastating effect' on London’s diverse communities who are already 'disproportionately' affected by the pandemic.

The government wants to extend a £15 charge to the North and South circular roads as one of a range of conditions in return for crucial Covid-19 funding for Transport for London(TfL).


The proposal wants the zone expanded to cover around four million more Londoners including the whole of Tower Hamlets and Haringey, most of Newham and Waltham Forest, and parts of Barnet, Brent, Ealing and Lambeth.

All these areas have a high proportion of black Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) residents.

Besides, the proposed charge would have a serious effect on BAME-owned small and medium-sized businesses, including in the retail and wholesale sectors. It will also split North London’s Jewish community in Hendon and Golders Green, a statement from the mayor's office said.

"It is simply wrong to hit four million more people with additional costs at a time when many are struggling to make ends meet, and I have made clear to ministers that I will not agree to these draconian terms. TfL’s financial issues are solely as a result of the pandemic. The government must not punish Londoners for doing the right thing to tackle Covid-19, and should instead come back to the table with a revised plan which is right not only for our city but our country too," said Sadiq Khan.

"Besides, extending the congestion charge zone, the government is proposing to increase fares in London by more than inflation and to introduce council tax increases in the capital to pay for public transport.

"In addition, they wish to maintain the requirement to remove free travel for under-18s and are now also proposing the removal of the 60+ photocard."

TfL’s fare income was decimated as Londoners did not use public transport except for essential journeys. As a result, emergency funding is needed to keep the network operating.

The widening of the zone was on top of the conditions in the previous TfL funding deal in May. TfL was then required to bring forward proposals to widen the level and the scope of the charge in central London.

Temporary changes were made to the congestion charge in central London in June, which extended the operating hours to 7am to 10pm seven days a week, with an increase in the level of charge to £15.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less