Labour and Green Party London Assembly Members voted against the Liberal Democrats' proposal to open the Mayor of London’s ULEZ scrappage scheme to retrospective applications.
An amendment brought forward by the Lib Dem group in the assembly had called on the Mayor to open his scrappage scheme to those who replaced their vehicles between January and the Mayor’s widening of the scheme in August.
Caroline Pidgeon has welcomed the Mayor's support for a rail link connecting Heathrow to south west London and Surrey, after she raised the matter in a written question in the London Assembly.
Caroline said:
"It's good to see this support from the Mayor in response to my question on a Heathrow Southern Rail Link.
A new rail link would benefit residents across southwest London and Surrey, and reduce road traffic."
Responding to Sadiq Khan's announcement of electric buses in Sutton, City Hall Liberal Democrats have accused the Mayor of using smoke and mirrors tactics ahead of next year’s London elections and of trying to hide the extent of cuts to bus services across London under his administration.
A previous Freedom of Information request by the Lib Dems showed that since Sadiq Khan came to power in 2016, his administration has presided over 19.3 million kilometres of cuts to bus routes in the capital.
Commenting, Caroline Pidgeon said:
Caroline Pidgeon's questions to the Mayor have revealed that since January 2022, the Met have conducted over 6,000 stop and searches without the required video recording.
Caroline said:
“We have seen over the last few decades how the disproportionate use of stop and search has led to decreased levels of trust between the police and communities. Stop and search is still being used three times more on black people in London than it is on white people.
Caroline Pidgeon has raised concerns with the Mayor over the lack of availability of shared electric cars, which has contributed to London's poor rating for "clean transport" compared to many other European cities.
Caroline said:
The Mayor must do more to promote the use of electric car clubs in order to improve London's zero-emission mobility and to prevent further car club operators from leaving the market.
Responding to the expansion of the ULEZ scrappage scheme, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and Transport Spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon AM said:
"It's about time the Mayor listened to the Liberal Democrat calls for an expanded scrappage scheme.
"Whilst we welcome the Labour Mayor at last listening, he could have saved Londoners a lot of stress and worry in the cost-of-living crisis if he had accepted our budget amendments in January and February.
Responding to the news that the High Court challenge to the expansion of ULEZ has been unsuccessful, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“The Liberal Democrats have been clear throughout this saga, we support action to clean up London’s air, but this must be done with adequate financial support to help people through any changes.
In the London Assembly, Caroline pushed the Mayor to do more to help the taxi trade to set up Electric Vehicle taxi hubs at stations and rest/refreshment ranks – an issue that Caroline had previously raised a year ago, supporting London Cab Drivers Club. The Mayor agreed to help break through the bureaucracy standing in the way of this.
Caroline has submitted a response to the consultation organised by London TravelWatch about the proposals to close ticket offices at train stations.
Caroline said:
I object to the closure of the ticket offices and consider it crucial that no staff are removed from any stations. Stations need to be staffed from first train to last train.
Caroline Pidgeon has responded to Transport for London's consultation on the new X34 bus route, which will run between North Finchley and Walthamstow as part of the Superloop.
Caroline stressed the need for a frequent enough service to create an attractive alternative to driving, as well as dedicated bus lanes to avoid buses getting stuck in traffic.
Caroline Pidgeon has raised concerns in the London Assembly over a lack of level access at Old Oak Common Station.
Responding to the Met’s apology over the Daniel Morgan murder probe, Caroline Pidgeon said:
"The apology by the Met today is a welcome and long overdue move.
"The repeated trauma that Daniel Morgan's family have had to go through over the years is something no one should ever have to experience and should never be allowed to happen again.
"It is now vital the Met learns from this case and stamps out corruption at every level."
Responding to the publication of the Met’s turnaround plan, “A New Met for London 2023-2025”, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“The plans laid out today by the Met represent a welcome shift in tone and focus, even if long overdue. In particular, the shift of resources towards the boroughs is something we have long campaigned in favour of.
“Central government now needs to back the turnaround plan with funding, resources and staff; alongside new powers to enable the Met to remove corrupt officers quickly.
Caroline Pidgeon has welcomed Transport for London's announcement that Alperton station is being considered for work to create step-free access. Caroline has long campaigned alongside local Lib Dem councillor Anton Georgiou to get progress on this issue.
Caroline said:
Caroline had a great trip to Sutton to meet parliamentary candidate Bobby Dean and a fantastic group of local Lib Dems, and to receive their petition to stop the cuts to the 213 bus route.
In the London Assembly, Caroline called on the Mayor to consider launching an international innovation competition to look at reducing Tube noise.
There are some amazing developments happening globally and it would be great to see London bringing together different sectors to solve this issue.
In the London Assembly, Caroline Pidgeon spoke out against the Conservatives draconian & anti-democratic Public Order Act and Labour's passive support for the legislation.
Caroline said:
Following an announcement by Sadiq Khan that he intervened to save Uxbridge Police Station from closure, Caroline Pidgeon has called on Labour’s Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to guarantee the future of Wimbledon Police Station.
Labour and Green politicians in the London Assembly have blocked attempts by the Liberal Democrats to increase the financial support available to those in outer London impacted by the expansion of Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion.
The Liberal Democrats had brought a motion to the Assembly today that called on the Mayor to increase the maximum payment claimants can make to the scrappage scheme, and open up the scheme to all those in outer London rather than just those on benefits.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley faced questions from the Liberal Democrats on the emergence of new evidence into 'Partygate’ today at the London Assembly, including over the ‘Jingle & Mingle” holiday party for the Shaun Bailey for London campaign.
