Peter Fortune for Bexley and Bromley

Happy New Year to everyone in Bexley and Bromley, and across London. I wish you and your families all the best for 2024.

Congratulations to our newest Bromley councillor, Josh Coldspring-White!

I am delighted to say that the residents of Hayes & Coney Hall have voted for continued Conservative representation by electing Josh as their new councillor. Josh fought an excellent campaign and his hard work really paid off with a fantastic result that showed a swing from Labour to Conservative.

I must also take a moment of remembrance for Councillor Andrew Lee, whose sad passing triggered the by-election. Andrew will be greatly missed.

I would like to wish Josh all the best in his new role - I know he will be a great advocate for an area he cares deeply about.

This weekend saw another successful session campaigning in Hayes & Coney Hall, in support of our excellent local candidate Josh Coldspring-White. He grew up in Hayes and will be a fantastic local advocate. Remember to vote for Josh on 7th December.

At Mayor's Question time, I asked Sadiq Khan about 'Project Detroit' and it's purpose - Pay Per Mile Road User Charging. As usual, he was unable to answer my questions.

Sadiq Khan quizzed on SECRET PAY-PER-MILE PLANS (He can't answer!) Twitter: www.twitter.com/CityHallToriesFacebook: www.facebook.com/CityHallConservativesWebsite: www.cityhallconservatives.com

At People's Question Time, I discussed the appalling statistics around housing. Sadiq Khan was given £4bn to build 35,000 homes in London. So far, not a single one has been finished. Watch the video for more details.

Mayor's £4+ BILLION Housing Failure Twitter: www.twitter.com/CityHallToriesFacebook: www.facebook.com/CityHallConservativesWebsite: www.cityhallconservatives.com

It’s been great to be back out in Hayes and Coney Hall recently. Along with Bob Neill MP, I’ve been supporting local champion Josh Coldspring-White, who has been active in the community for years. Remember to vote for Josh on 7th December.

Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion has raked in £26million in it's first month of operation. Over 57,000 vehicles per day are hit with charges.

ULEZ expansion rakes in £26m in first month as 57,000 vehicles a day charged Expansion cut the number of older, more polluting vehicles being driven in Greater London by 45 per cent, TfL finds

At Mayor's Question Time last week, I pressed Sadiq Khan for details on when we could expect to receive the first month's findings from the expanded ULEZ. As we have seen before when he is unwilling or unable to answer a question, he resorted to hurling insults instead of answering. Read more in the Spectator...

Why did Sadiq Khan say I was 'thick'? During a fractious Mayor's Question Time last week, London Mayor Sadiq Khan called Tory member Peter Fortune 'thick'

From The Times Big Question: 'Is ULEZ expansion the right thing to do?' Me v Sadiq Khan

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ulez-expansion-2023-latest-news-sadiq-khan-defends-h95rgx7dq

It is important that we have open, honest and transparent discussions in order to find the best solution for cleaner air across London. Views that do not fit with Sadiq Khan's agenda are hushed up - how can we trust that all avenues have been adequately researched and explored?

PETER FORTUNE: Sadiq Khan assaults integrity of scientific community PETER FORTUNE: Sadiq Khan is adamant that expanding the ultra-low emission zone to the outer fringes of London is not a cynical tax grab but a principled, dutiful response to scientific findings.

The ULEZ expansion came into effect today. This will hammer families, small businesses and charities in Bexley and Bromley, and elsewhere. Sadiq Khan's next step is road user charging - we need to continue to work to make public his already developing plans.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sadiq-khan-denies-plan-for-london-pay-per-mile-road-scheme-v3sqftp3t #:~:text=Sadiq%20Khan%20has%20been%20criticised,as%20a%20proposal%20for%20consideration.

Sadiq Khan denies plan for London pay-per-mile road scheme Sadiq Khan has been criticised for claiming that pay-per-mile road charging is “not on his agenda” despite it appearing in his own transport strategy as a prop

It is important that issues are discussed and debated openly and transparently. Sadiq Khan has often stated that 'the science' backs up his ULEZ expansion - we can now see that his office have attempted to quash research that doesn't agree.

Ulez: London Mayor accused of 'quashing research' questioning the scheme Sadiq Khan's deputy twice asked an academic to counter research questioning the scheme's benefits.

Khan's deputy urged scientists to alter study showing emissions scheme had no impact on child health

Khan’s deputy urged scientists to alter study showing emissions scheme had no impact on child health Emails reveal Shirley Rodrigues asked scientist to 'reword' the study's conclusion that found 'no evidence' of benefits to children’s lungs

Not only will an expanded ULEZ have huge financial implications for those living and working in outer London, but independent reports have shown that the impact on air quality is "negligible". What is the real purpose of Sadiq Khan's proposed expansion? I discussed this issue on Talk TV:

TalkTV on Twitter “City Hall Conservative Deputy Leader AM addresses Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion as a “money making scheme”. “The only way this can be justified is to wrap it up in the air quality. The impact on the air quality in leafy boroughs is negligible. Let that sink in".”

Pleased to see outer London Boroughs - including Bexley and Bromley - win this first stage of the Judicial Review process. This is really good news for hard working people across Bexley and Bromley. Well done to those council leaders who pushed this. It’s not over yet, but one thing is certainly clear: the camera expansion must stop now!

Bexley and Bromley win first stage of legal challenge over ULEZ expansion plans Five councils have won the first stage of a legal challenge over Sadiq Khan’s decision to expand London’s ultra low emission zone (ULEZ).

At People's Question Time in Ealing, I gave my review of Sadiq Khan's job performance.

Sadiq Khan set straight by Peter Fortune on his job performance as Mayor. Sadiq Khan has over £20 billion in his budget, and has £2.1 billion in reserves. The Met Police & London Fire Brigade are in special measures, TfL has been f...

During People's Question Time in Ealing on 2 March, Sadiq Khan was unsurprisingly asked about the ULEZ expansion. In his answer, he described those who oppose the ULEZ expansion as far-right conspiracy theorists. This is completely unacceptable and unprofessional. Rather than answering the questions and engaging in constructive debate, Sadiq Khan once again resorted to insulting those who disagree with him. See how I responded.

Sadiq Khan SMEARS ULEZ expansion opponents as far-right - Peter Fortune hits back At PQT in Ealing, Sadiq Khan labels people who disagree with his ULEZ expansion far-right, Peter Fortune hits back at his accusations.PQT | 2 March 2023Twitt...

On Thursday 23 February, I presented our plan to help Londoners with the cost of living, which included strategies to improve air quality without placing an unjustifiable tax on the poorest.

Our amendment to Sadiq Khan’s Budget proposed to stop the ULEZ expansion, freeze Council Tax and invest in a serious plan to reduce air pollution. Our fully costed and affordable plan would benefit the lives of millions of Londoners.

We implored Assembly members to put aside party interests and vote for the best deal for London. Watch what happened.

We voted to stop ULEZ and freeze Council Tax - Mayor's Budget On Thursday 23 February 2023, we presented our plan to help Londoners with the cost of living and breathing.00:00 Peter Fortune - our plan04:50 Nick Rogers06...

I am pleased to say that Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey have today brought legal action following TfL's announcement that it would push on with Sadiq Khan's plans to expend the ULEZ scheme despite all the opposition. For further details please see article below:

Councils challenge ULEZ expansion decision in the courts | London Borough of Bexley A coalition of five councils has today (Thursday 16 February) launched a Judicial Review to challenge Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London’s decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to outer London boroughs. The London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon a...

Following the discovery of documents that show London Mayor Sadiq Khan was briefed on the ongoing results of the ULEZ consultation - despite his insistence that he had no knowledge until the final report - I asked him why he misled the London Assembly.

🔥 "Why didn't you tell the truth, Sadiq Khan?" - Mayor's Question Time Sadiq Khan is exposed for making false and dishonest statements about ULEZ at Mayor's Question Time. : www.twitter.com/GLAConservativeFa...

New documents released today have exposed Sadiq Khan's false and dishonest statements to the London Assembly. In the video, watch Sadiq Khan telling me repeatedly that he had no knowledge of the results of the TfL consultation on the ULEZ expansion. We now know that this was not the case. Sadiq Khan never intended to listen to the views of those who live or work in London, and made false statements to the London Assembly to cover up his manipulation of the consultation results. Completely unacceptable.

DISHONEST: Sadiq Khan caught red handed at the London Assembly Sadiq Khan claimed he did not see the ULEZ consultation results in advance, something he himself said would suggest due process was not followed.This wasn't ...

There is an opportunity, this week, to stop the ULEZ expansion to outer London. On Thursday 17th November your London Assembly members will have a vote on ULEZ.

The reason for this is that the mayor and TfL are required to alter their transport strategy, or MTS. In order to expand the ULEZ zone the London Assembly needs to allow the MTS to be altered. At a meeting on Thursday, AMs can vote to stop the MTS being altered and hence stop the ULEZ in its tracks. So, the simple message is this – if you do not want the ULEZ to expand, contact your London Assembly Member and tell them to vote against the MTS.

If Sadiq Khan wins this vote on Thursday, he will have total power to implement ULEZ and expand road-user charging. To win the vote against expansion, two thirds of the Assembly Members must vote against it which means it needs cross-party support. We urge Labour members to do the right thing and vote for their constituents and not simply protect their mayor.

Write to your Assembly Member now and help stop this tax on the very poorest Londoners.

For more information, visit my website by clicking on the link below

STOP ULEZ EXPANSION There is an opportunity, this week, to stop the ULEZ expansion to outer London. On Thursday 17th November your London Assembly members will have a vote on ULEZ.

66% voted against Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion. Even worse, a Telegraph investigation has uncovered evidence that opposition votes may have been improperly excluded. The ULEZ expansion must stop and the Mayor must explain what has happened to those votes

Leak reveals two thirds of Londoners oppose expansion of ultra-low emission zones Blow to Sadiq Khan as plans plunged into turmoil following consultation

City Hall can afford to help Londoners prepare for ULEZ. There is £50m Khan could use to invest in larger scrappage schemes to help more Londoners. We must clean up London’s air – but we can’t do it on the backs of the poorest.

https://www.cityam.com/opinion-in-brief-sadiq-khan-expansion-of-ulez-comes-at-the-ultra-worst-time/

Opinion-in-brief: Sadiq Khan expansion of ULEZ comes at the ultra-worst time Londoners need more time and help to prepare for Sadiq Khan’s expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone. Covid restrictions

The Mayor’s scrappage scheme is clearly running low on cash. If it hasn’t run out already, it will only be a matter of days until it’s suspended, leaving struggling Londoners with no help as Ulez expands.

With the price of second-hand cars soaring, few Londoners can afford to switch their vehicle without help.

I urge the Mayor to keep this scrappage scheme open by investing £50 million from City Hall’s business rate reserve. That’s enough to help Londoners scrap 25,000 dirty cars.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/ulez-expansion-london-thousands-scrappage-scheme-applications-rejected-b960434.html

Thousands of ULEZ scrappage scheme applications rejected Thousands of motorists who asked for help to scrap their car ahead of the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone have had their application delayed or rejected.

James Brokenshire was an exceptionally kind man. Friendly and giving - always taking the time to support others - he is a huge loss. My thoughts are with his family at this time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58844606

Tory MP and ex-Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire dies, aged 53 The ex-minister and father-of-three first quit the cabinet in 2018 after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Great to meet with Matt from the FSB Greater London this morning to discuss ULEZ scrappage schemes, Khan's Congestion Charge hike, and how City Hall can support small businesses.