In a fiery showdown at the London Assembly, Emma Best launched a scathing attack on Mayor Sadiq Khan, branding him “a disgrace to London” over his alleged backtracking on his promise to oppose the government’s controversial pay-per-mile scheme targeting electric vehicles. The explosive exchange 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓭 sharp divisions and ignited urgent debate on London’s transport future.
Best unleashed her fury during Mayor’s Questions, confronting Khan about 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓭 government plans to impose a road user charge disguised as a “pay-per-mile” tax starting 2028. She accused Khan of breaking his 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓵𝓲𝓬𝓲𝓽 pledge from just last month, when he vowed to stand firm against any pay-per-mile policy in London. “You said no to pay per mile. Now you’re saying it’s acceptable. Stand by your word!” she demanded.
Khan’s response appeared evasive and defensive. He insisted the government is not introducing “paper mile,” but clarified that from 2028 there would be a novel vehicle excise duty specifically targeting electric cars which currently evade road tax. When pressed on how charges would be calculated, Khan suggested it would likely be mileage-based but deferred to the government’s exact plans, offering to take Best’s concerns directly to Whitehall.
The back-and-forth unfolded in sharp relief, as Best accused Khan of shifting goalposts and diluting his anti-pay-per-mile stance. “Last month, you promised to fight this. Today, you say it might happen,” she said incredulously. Khan tried to pivot, emphasizing he has “no plans” to implement pay-per-mile through Transport for London and questioned the feasibility of individual vehicle tracking by 2028.
The controversy taps into wider anxieties about the government’s direction on electric vehicle taxation and the future of London’s transport ecosystem. Best’s aggressive interrogation spotlighted deep mistrust among Assembly members and Londoners fearful of looming charges that could disproportionately hit drivers transitioning to electric vehicles.
Further complicating the session, Labour Assembly Member James Small Edwards praised Khan’s support for the government’s removal of the two-child benefit cap, highlighting its potential impact on reducing child poverty in London. Khan underscored his long-standing opposition to the cap, blaming the Conservative government for its introduction and celebrating the recent policy reversal as a major win for families.
Yet the session’s explosive centerpiece remained Best’s relentless drilling into Khan’s contradictory messaging on the pay-per-mile scheme. The Mayor faced relentless questioning on why he would now tolerate a policy he once promised to reject outright, raising questions about his reliability on critical transport promises.
Best demanded clarity on the mechanics of the planned taxes, pressing Khan for specifics on how authorities would monitor mileage and calculate fees. Khan’s hedging responses were met with visible frustration, amplifying the perception of a leadership in disarray 𝒄𝒂𝓊𝓰𝒉𝓉 between government mandates and public opposition.
The confrontation highlighted an urgent policy fault line as London grapples with balancing environmental goals, fiscal realities, and the concerns of drivers. The pay-per-mile debate has ignited fierce opposition citywide, with critics branding the scheme unfair and impractical, particularly for lower-income Londoners adapting to electric vehicles.
This explosive exchange between Best and Khan signals a critical moment in London’s political landscape, raising alarms over transparency, accountability, and the future shape of transport levies. With major decisions looming over the next parliament, the pressure on Khan to deliver unequivocal leadership has never been more intense.
As the session closed, the message was clear: Londoners demand answers and steadfast commitment from their Mayor, not ambiguities and apparent reversals. The spat laid bare the complexities and high stakes of navigating government mandates while defending local interests in one of the world’s most scrutinized capitals.
The government’s pay-per-mile proposals remain shrouded in uncertainty, but the political fallout is already echoing through City Hall. Emma Best’s vociferous challenge has energized opponents of the scheme and cast long shadows over Khan’s standing as a champion for London’s drivers.
Londoners and policymakers alike will be watching closely as this fiery controversy unfolds, hungry for decisive action and clear directives. The Mayor’s handling of the pay-per-mile issue could set the tone for his remaining tenure, defining his legacy amid mounting political heat.
The intensity of today’s London Assembly session underscores the urgent demand for transparency and decisive leadership on transport policy as the capital braces for profound changes at the intersection of climate action and fiscal policy.
With pivotal decisions expected imminently, the political battleground has been set. Emma Best’s dramatic rebuke of Sadiq Khan reverberates as a clarion call for accountability, marking a charged chapter in London’s turbulent governance saga that refuses to subside.