Ealing Friends of the Earth has been scanning the manifestos of the candidates for the London mayoral election on May 2 to discover where they stand on green issues. We cannot advise people who to vote for but we are looking for promises that the candidate will put cutting CO2 emissions and enhancing the environment at the top of their ‘to do’ list. The new London Mayor will have many competing priorities and a limited budget so it is vital that London chooses a candidate who knows about the issues before they take the job. London needs its ‘greenest’ Mayor so far. We’ve only looked at the manifestos of a few of the candidates – the full list can be found here https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/candidates/mayoral-candidates.
ROB BLACKIE - Liberal Democrat
Manifesto Pledge: Tackle the sewage dumping crisis in the Thames
Ealing Friends of the Earth says: It is excellent that Rob Blackie mentions tackling sewage dumping the Thames in his manifesto. This is an extremely important issue for London. But there are many other equally important environmental issues that need to be tackled such as cutting CO2 emissions, enhancing green spaces and reducing air pollution.
HOWARD COX - ReformUK
Manifesto pledges: Scrap all Ulez charges and cameras. Refund all Ulez fees & fines since 29th August 2023. Remove LTNs, 20mph zones, needless road restrictions, pinch points, floating bus stops & excessively wide cycle lanes.
He goes on to say: “As the founder of the FairFuelUK campaign, I am the only Mayoral candidate with a proven track record of making a difference to your lives by helping to reduce your cost of living.
“Since 2011, every driver, business and charity has benefited from paying thousands of pounds less to fill up their motorbikes, cars, vans and trucks – all because of my campaign against fuel duty increases.”
Ealing Friends of the Earth says: Howard Cox’s manifesto pledges will make the environment in London much worse. They are anti-environment pledges. They will result in many more vehicles on the roads causing a huge rise in air pollution which is already over the World Health Organisation’s guidelines. More cars means traffic will not flow freely as they will be stuck in endless traffic jams. CO2 emissions in London will also massively increase which will contribute to the destruction of London’s environment by causing temperatures to increase.
The only environmental issue he seems concerned about is destroying the environment by getting more cars on the roads – travelling more miles, faster and at a cheaper price. There is nothing about clean air, lowering CO2 emissions, green spaces, water pollution or any other important environmental issue.
ZOE GARBETT - Green Party
Manifesto pledges: I’ll make transport affordable for all, working towards one city-wide, low fare for public transport. This next term of the Mayor is critical to addressing the climate emergency - we must act now and I know what needs to be done.
Ealing Friends of the Earth says: Zoe Garbett’s aim to make transport in London affordable for all will be a step forward in reducing CO2 emissions and air pollution. She recognises that the next term of the Mayor will be critical in addressing the climate emergency but doesn’t say what she would do or how that would be implemented.
SADIQ KHAN - Labour
Manifesto pledges: Vote for a fairer, safer, greener London for everyone. TfL fares frozen. A greener future. Tackling air pollution and the climate crisis
Ealing Friends of the Earth says: Sadiq Khan’s manifesto pledges cover a wide variety of environmental issues: TfL fares frozen will encourage people to use public transport and leave their cars at home which will reduce CO2 emissions and air pollution. He mentions the climate crisis and twice mentions ‘a greener future’ although there is no explanation of what that means and how he will achieve it.
Mr Khan is the current Mayor of London and in his manifesto he does mention what he considers ‘successes’ – the Elizabeth Line, Night Tube, the Superloop bus route and the cheaper Hopper fares – all of which have improved public transport in London and so have gone some way to improving air quality and reducing CO2 emissions. During his first term as Mayor he froze TfL fares for five years which meant public transport was cheaper and so more accessible. He also mentions ‘World-leading climate action’ without being specific but Mr Khan has been chair of C40 Cities – a network of mayors from cities around the world confronting climate change.
SUSAN HALL - Conservatives
Manifesto pledges: Too many drivers are struggling to make ends meet, because of new driving charges introduced at the worst possible time. I am listening to the Londoners struggling to make ends meet because of new driving charges. This is why we’ll scrap ULEZ expansion on day one. Cut the cost of travelling around London. Scrap ULEZ expansion on day one. Support local councils to remove unwanted low-traffic-neighbourhoods. No driving charge for every mile you drive. Prioritise building on brownfield sites. Not London’s remaining greenbelt
Ealing Friends of the Earth says: Susan Hall wants to make driving around London in cars easier which will increase air pollution and CO2 emissions and make London’s already poor quality air much worse. More cars on the roads mean more traffic jams. She has nothing to say about improving public transport which is used by nearly everyone in London. She does mention prioritising building on brownfield sites and not on the greenbelt which is an important environmental issue. Many developers would prefer to use a greenfield site where construction costs may be cheaper.