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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mayor quashes £25 C-charge hike | Mayor quashes £25 C-charge hike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson has quashed the proposed rise in congestion charge for vehicles deemed the most polluting. | London Mayor Boris Johnson has quashed the proposed rise in congestion charge for vehicles deemed the most polluting. |
| Former mayor Ken Livingstone planned to raise the daily levy from £8 to £25 from October, prompting car maker Porsche to bring a legal challenge. | |
| Mr Johnson's pledged in his election manifesto to scrap the £25 charge and said the move would save legal costs. | Mr Johnson's pledged in his election manifesto to scrap the £25 charge and said the move would save legal costs. |
| The mayor has also scrapped a proposal to allow low emission cars free entry to the congestion charge zone. | The mayor has also scrapped a proposal to allow low emission cars free entry to the congestion charge zone. |
| Mr Livingstone said ditching the charge was a "further blow" to tackling climate change. | Mr Livingstone said ditching the charge was a "further blow" to tackling climate change. |
| 'Political tax increase' | 'Political tax increase' |
| Under Mr Livingstone's plans the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions cars would have paid £25 to enter the zone whereas cars while those with the lowest emissions were to get a 100% discount on the charge. | Under Mr Livingstone's plans the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions cars would have paid £25 to enter the zone whereas cars while those with the lowest emissions were to get a 100% discount on the charge. |
| Following the proposals in February, a study said the plan would encourage smaller vehicles to enter the zone, increasing congestion and pollution. | Following the proposals in February, a study said the plan would encourage smaller vehicles to enter the zone, increasing congestion and pollution. |
| Mr Johnson said abandoning the proposal will save Transport for London (TfL) £10m earmarked for the scheme. | Mr Johnson said abandoning the proposal will save Transport for London (TfL) £10m earmarked for the scheme. |
| He said his decision was in keeping with his aim to achieve a "fairer and more effective" congestion charge. | He said his decision was in keeping with his aim to achieve a "fairer and more effective" congestion charge. |
| The former mayor said scrapping the plan was a "blow" to climate change | The former mayor said scrapping the plan was a "blow" to climate change |
| "I am delighted that we have been able to scrap the £25 charge, which would have hit families and small businesses hardest. | "I am delighted that we have been able to scrap the £25 charge, which would have hit families and small businesses hardest. |
| "I believe the proposal would actually have made congestion worse by allowing thousands of small cars in for free," he said. | "I believe the proposal would actually have made congestion worse by allowing thousands of small cars in for free," he said. |
| Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche Cars Great Britain, said: "We were always confident that our legal case was right and that we would win in the end. | Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche Cars Great Britain, said: "We were always confident that our legal case was right and that we would win in the end. |
| "The charge was clearly unfair and was actually going to increase emissions in London. Porsche is proud to have played a decisive role in striking down such a blatantly political tax increase targeting motorists." | "The charge was clearly unfair and was actually going to increase emissions in London. Porsche is proud to have played a decisive role in striking down such a blatantly political tax increase targeting motorists." |
| Kensington and Chelsea Council supported Porsche's legal bid. | Kensington and Chelsea Council supported Porsche's legal bid. |
| Mr Livingstone said the decision was "a further blow to the London as groundbreaking city to tackle climate change and improve the environment." | Mr Livingstone said the decision was "a further blow to the London as groundbreaking city to tackle climate change and improve the environment." |
| He added that rather than saving money "London will lose £30-£60m expected annual revenue from the scheme". | He added that rather than saving money "London will lose £30-£60m expected annual revenue from the scheme". |
| TfL was ordered by the High Court to pay Porsche's legal costs. The money will be donated to the youth charity Skidz, the car maker announced. | TfL was ordered by the High Court to pay Porsche's legal costs. The money will be donated to the youth charity Skidz, the car maker announced. |