London Mayor scraps £25 congestion charge

London Mayor Boris Johnson has left the Conservative party’s green credentials in tatters by scrapping proposals for a £25 congestion charge on the most polluting cars in the city.

The £25 charge, proposed to begin this October by Johnson’s predecessor Ken Livingstone, would have applied only to the most polluting vehicles in London, whilst vehicles with low emissions would have become exempt from the current £8 per day charge.

Just over 15% of the cars that currently drive within the congestion zone would have been liable to pay the increased charge.

Johnson said that by canceling the scheme he has saved Londoners £10 million in set up costs.

However, Johnson’s predecessor Ken Livingstone said that the decision has cost Londoners at least £30 million per year in lost revenue.

Green Party members of the London Assembly are also angered by the decision, and commented that the self-interest of a few drivers is putting the future of the planet in jeopardy.

Labour MP Diane Abbot has tabled a commons motion condemning Johnson’s decision.

The motion says that the increased charges would have encouraged public transport use and reduced carbon emissions in the capital.

A poll conducted earlier this year found that 61% of Londoners supported the proposals to increase the congestion charge.