Sadiq Khan could be kicked out as Mayor of London by furious voters over ULEZ charge, Labour fears
SADIQ Khan could be kicked out as Mayor of London by voters angry at the Ulez car charge — dubbed the Toll Tax, Labour insiders say.
The capital is a Labour stronghold and Mr Khan was expected to glide to victory easily in next May’s election.
But his popularity has been battered by the controversial expansion of the charge — which he has vowed to plough ahead with after winning a High Court case.
The Tories are using the explosive row to drive up their support in the capital.
Meanwhile, ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is known to be considering running for London Mayor.
Party insiders think Mr Khan could get “squeezed” between the Tories on the right and Corbynistas on the left and lose office.
One told The Sun on Sunday: “People are furious with Sadiq. He might do the unthinkable and lose Labour’s backyard of London. We could see a repeat of the Boris Johnson doughnut strategy.
“He was able to win London because he concentrated on hoovering up votes on the edge of the city.
“You could see the Tories trying that again and making the race for City Hall a referendum on Ulez.”
Mr Johnson was Mayor of London from 2008 to 2016.
The Ulez row has erupted into open civil war in Labour.
Leader Sir Keir Starmer is fuming with Mr Khan for pressing ahead with the expansion of the charge, which stings drivers of older petrol and diesel cars with a £12.50 daily fee.
He fears it will cause the party to haemorrhage votes and his MPs are openly accusing Mr Khan of waging a war on motorists.
Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said Ulez is a “huge burden” on working people.
He added: “He knows those people can’t afford it. It’s just dogmatic politics from him. He doesn’t want to be seen changing his view.”