Labour would 'declare war' on motorists by introducing ULEZ-style road pricing schemes and 20mph speed limits across the country, Tories claim
- Labour would also increase fuel duty to plug £38.5billion hole in spending plans
- Transport Secretary Mark Harper cited road pricing plans in Labour-run Wales
- He pointed to Sadiq Khan's ULEZ as proof of Labour's 'anti-motorist' policies
A Labour government would 'declare war' on motorists by introducing Ulez-style road pricing schemes and 20mph speed limits across the country, the Tories claimed last night.
The party would also increase fuel duty on motorists to plug the £38.5billion hole in its spending plans, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said.
Labour has repeatedly refused to rule out raising the petrol levy and failed to match the Tories' manifesto pledge not to introduce pay-per-mile road pricing schemes.
Mr Harper cited plans for road pricing in Labour-run Wales, where drivers have also faced limits on 'restricted roads' being reduced to 20mph.
He warned Labour's track record meant party leader Sir Keir Starmer would look to introduce similar plans across the whole country.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said a Labour government would 'declare war' on motorists by introducing Ulez-style road pricing schemes and 20mph speed limits across the country
Harper pointed to London Labour mayor Sadiq Khan's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) – under which drivers of non-compliant vehicles are charged £12.50 to enter the capital – as proof of Labour's 'anti-motorist' credentials.
This would need to happen because Labour had committed to banning sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, meaning it would have to replace fuel duty with another levy, he said.
He also pointed to London Labour mayor Sadiq Khan's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) – under which drivers of non-compliant vehicles are charged £12.50 to enter the capital – as proof of Labour's 'anti-motorist' credentials.
'Labour is coming for you if you have a car,' Mr Harper said, adding that it 'wouldn't be unfair' to describe it as 'a war on the motorist'.
The Tories have committed to curtailing Ulez in London if they win the election, while ruling out similar regimes elsewhere in the UK.
By contrast, Sir Keir has committed to look at introducing similar schemes across the country.
Mr Harper said: 'We know Labour has got a black hole in its spending plans, we know they're going to have to raise taxes and it seems to me that… they're going to have fuel duty at the top of their list of revenue raisers.'
Any rise would clobber the poorest and small businesses the hardest, he added.
It would also be inflationary and push up supermarket prices, with delivery and haulage businesses having to pass on extra costs, he warned.
He said the 1997-2010 Labour government planned to introduce national road pricing but did not do so after 'a massive public backlash'.
The Tories have committed to curtailing Ulez - an initiative introduced by Sadiq Khan - in London if they win the election, while ruling out similar regimes elsewhere in the UK
'It's very clear that if you look at what Labour did last time, when it was in power nationally, and what it's doing in power whether it's in Wales or in London, it absolutely sees motorists as cash cows and will try the same elsewhere,' Mr Harper warned.
Labour said: 'This is absolute nonsense from a party that has run out of road.'
