London Mayor Accused of Stifling Dissent Over Emissions Zones

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The Facts

  • Newly-released emails show the office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan pressuring a scientist to downplay a study released which showed that London's Ultra-Low Emissions Zones program has a negligible effect on pollution, leading some to question the Mayor's office's relationship with the scientists it funds.

  • The emails show Khan's environment and energy deputy, Shirley Rodrigues, telling Imperial College London researcher Frank Kelly that the mayor's office was "really disappointed" the college decided to release a study questioning the effectiveness of the zones.


The Spin

Right narrative

These findings give proof to what people have known all along: Ultra-Low Emissions Zones are nothing but a cash grab and are not supported by science. Cash-strapped Londoners could see an added expense of thousands of pounds a year imposed on them amid a cost-of-living crisis. This policy needs to be reversed, as Sadiq Khan's Labour Party will seemingly stop at nothing to fleece citizens with this faux-green guise.

Left narrative

What Khan's office has done is not improper — it was merely providing feedback on the next steps in the process. Air pollution is a killer, and the government needs to take action to keep Londoners healthy. This program is a step in the right direction and will help tackle the scourges of climate change, pollution, and a looming health crisis over dirty air.


Political split

LEFT

RIGHT

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