Summary

  • London Mayor Sadiq Khan has taken questions from callers to Eddie Nestor's BBC London Radio show

  • He was quizzed about subjects including the ULEZ expansion, policing, housing and crime

  1. We're ending our coverage herepublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    We've reached the end of our live coverage of Sadiq Khan taking your questions, where he answered everything from policing to pollution.

    It's clear the most discussed topic for Londoners is still the ULEZ expansion - with the vast majority of questions and calls received being about this issue.

    Today's page was edited by Tim Stokes and our writers were Adriana Elgueta, Liz Jackson and Yasmin Rufo.

    Thanks for joining us.

  2. Analysis: We were led to believe there was going to be more helppublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    With the mayor now having left the studio BBC London's political correspondent, Tim Donovan, joins Eddie to break down what we've heard from the mayor in the last hour.

    He says there was quite a "soft tone and something confusing about it".

    He explains he was "led to believe that there was going to be an announcement of more help in the scrappage scheme", but that was not the case.

    He thinks this may have been because the new plans need modification or more conversations.

    Time will tell whether the scrappage scheme will be updated but the mayor was clear that it is always "under review", he says.

  3. Khan promises to keep the scrappage scheme under reviewpublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Sadiq Khan has been answering your questions for the past hour on BBC Radio London.

    He responds to the final question on ULEZ by saying: "I know it's difficult for many people to make the transition, of course I understand that.

    "It was a tough decision for me to take."

    The mayor also promises Londoners he "will keep the support for the scrappage scheme under review."

    The BBC has been assessing some of the claims made about the clean air policy, which you can read here.

  4. What are you doing to clean up the air?published at 12:11 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Fatima has also called in because she "feels so strongly about ULEZ" as someone living in outer London, and as a family member of someone with asthma.

    "I live next to a very busy road. I don't even open my window any more because I'm not getting any fresh air," she explains.

    "What else are you doing to clean up our air in London?"

  5. It's impractical to test every vehicle for ULEZ - Khanpublished at 12:07 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Eddie Nestor

    Eddie says that 90% of calls and texts have been related to the expansion of ULEZ.

    The mayor insists that "all policies are kept under review", but he is "clear that ULEZ will be expanding".

    He says it would be "impractical to test every vehicle to check if it is ULEZ compliant".

    You can find out if your car is compliant here, external.

  6. Why can't my car be tested over ULEZ?published at 12:04 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Peter in Hampstead says: "I was denied the scrappage scheme which I'm very upset about.

    "I also asked the mayor's office if I can take my car in and have it tested. Your office denied me this.

    "Why is it that your office refused to allow me to produce test results and get passed through the ULEZ?"

  7. TfL has more accurate ways of recording ULEZ compliance - mayorpublished at 12:03 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Mr Khan says the reason why the RAC data is wrong is because it's out of date.

    "The DVLA has vehicles registered in London that may have been being driven elsewhere, the most reliable information we have is from the cameras we have in place," he said.

    "They don't have the right technology in place.

    "And from the data we have in 2017, it shows that vehicle compliance is increasing."

    Eddie then asks: "Are you saying TfL has more accurate ways of recording compliance compared to the DVLA?"

    "Spot on," Khan responds, "We have more accurate data from cameras.

    "If you're driving a non-compliant vehicle, you're breathing in poison and so are your kids.

    "It's not just congestion, it's a health crisis."

  8. Is City Hall's ULEZ data accurate?published at 12:00 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    File image of green ULEZ sign on a road.Image source, PA Media

    Eddie challenges the mayor on City Hall's use of figures for ULEZ compliance, playing a clip from Nicholas Lees from the RAC.

    He says: "The mayor's office talks about vehicles travelling - well the data the mayor's office has got is based on a limited number of cameras they have in and around that area of outer London.

    "What I'm saying is that actually they don't have all the technology and infrastructure in place yet, so I'm not sure they can make an accurate picture of the number of non-compliant vehicles travelling within the area."

  9. 'I promise we will ring you to talk about knife crime'published at 11:56 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    The mayor has received a number of calls asking him what he is doing to support victims of knife crime and educate young people about the dangers of grooming.

    Khan promises the callers he will talk to them specifically about the problem.

    He adds he has been funding groups across London which support knife crime victims.

    "We've provided 150,000 young Londoners with training and education," he says.

  10. Will you fund victim support charities?published at 11:54 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Tiwa in central London wants to know whether the mayor will fund third-sector organisations and charities that are supporting victims of crime and their families.

    She asks: "I want to know if you have the power to give funding and support charities and social enterprises, who are dealing with the backlash of knife crime.

    "And what's been happening with women's safety?"

  11. Analysis: A change of heart at City Hallpublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Tim Donovan
    BBC London, Political Editor

    ULEZ signImage source, EPA

    City Hall officials had trailed last week that when the mayor appeared on the phone-in today, there would be an announcement about the ULEZ scrappage scheme.

    Not necessarily more money, we thought, but widening the eligibility for it.

    With more than 280,000 cars non-compliant in outer London, and 80,000 vans, there is potentially a lot of demand.

    There’s clearly been a change of heart at City Hall. Sadiq Khan didn’t say why there was no such news coming today, after all.

    But he said there was a “possibility” more money would be provided in future and he was keeping it under review.

    The mayor is under pressure - with four Labour MPs and a couple of council leaders calling for more help in the last few days.

    He agrees they are lobbying him but claims their main intention is to lobby the government for more money.

    With the judicial review legal case approaching next month this is tricky period for him.

  12. I can't wait for the next campaign - Khanpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    The mayor tells Felicity: "One of the joys of democracy is that everyone has a different view, there's a vote.

    "I can't wait for the campaign, I love meeting people and I love explaining why I'm doing things."

    He claims even with "the most anti-London government in history", he's achieved a huge amount.

    "Imagine all that we could achieve with a pro-London government," he adds.

  13. 'Is your election campaign team ready for a fight?'published at 11:49 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Felicity from Camden says she would like to know if the mayor's campaign team are ready for a fight for the next mayoral election.

    "It seems those in opposition to you are projecting hatred on you, fragile human beings. Are they ready?"

  14. Khan says there are more bus lanes than ever beforepublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Bus lane in London

    The mayor says he is trying to tackle congestion in London and has introduced "more bus lanes that ever before to allow our buses not to be stuck in traffic".

    He adds ULEZ will help address the issue of congestion as "drivers will be encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transport".

    He says he's confident this will "free up the roads for people that really need it".

  15. Do you expect all Londoners to switch to green transport?published at 11:46 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Cyclists in a cycle lane in London.Image source, Getty Images

    David in Bermondsey wants to know more about the mayor's plans for air quality.

    He says the mayor's current policies have made it worse by "reducing road space all over London, as well as converting bus lanes to cycle lanes".

    He asks: "You want people to cycle or use public transport, but do you seriously expect the majority of Londoners to transition to cycling in all weathers, or use a bus that doesn't have a bus lane?"

  16. Housing associations have less funding - Khanpublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Mr Khan replies: "The short answer is that we need massive injection of money to bring London homes up to a decent standard."

    He explains that housing associations have had a reduction of government funding and they are also facing a "mould backlog".

    He adds that taking away legal aid from housing law is a "big problem".

    "There used to be legal aid for lawyers to bring cases against landlords, we are now funding law centres to support tenants living in houses not fit for habitation."

    A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “The secretary of state expects London housing providers to raise the bar on the quality of their homes. Awaab’s Law will force social landlords to fix their homes within strict new time limits and help to ensure that these homes are safe.

    “Our social housing regulation bill will support justice for tenants, making sure their voices are heard and their issues dealt with quickly and fairly.

    “It includes strengthening the Housing Ombudsman with new powers and resources to help it step in when landlords fail to act. The housing ombudsman provides tenants with a vital, fair and independent service, resolving complaints for free, which may avoid lengthy and costly legal proceedings.”

  17. How will you combat poor housing conditions?published at 11:41 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Mushrooms growing from a ceilingImage source, Serena
    Image caption,

    One Hackney resident previously told the BBC it took months for her housing association to remove the mushrooms from the ceiling

    Ifra says she is concerned about the condition of housing after the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould at his home in Rochdale.

    She asks the mayor: "What support will you be giving to local authorities to tackle the issues of damp and mould?"

  18. 'Housing supply won't meet demand for the next few years'published at 11:39 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    The mayor admits even if the government provided him with more money, the housing supply will not meet demand for the next few years.

    So far 116,000 affordable homes have been started, but only 65,000 have been completed.

    Khan tells Lee that he is very focused on reforms in the private rental market.

    He wants to see "security of tenures and rent freezes".

  19. Are you doing enough on the housing shortage?published at 11:37 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

    Lee in Newham says while thousands of new council homes have been built in the capital, there are still not enough.

    He asks the mayor whether he should do more to help combat the housing shortage in London.

    "I know people that are stuck on housing lists and temporary accommodation," Lee says. "What is being done to alleviate that list?"

  20. 'Sir Mark and I disagree on elements of Dame Casey report'published at 11:36 British Summer Time 31 May 2023

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    Eddie asks if London's mayor is frustrated that Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley doesn't accept that the Met is institutionally racist.

    The mayor says he is frustrated the commissioner won't accept all the terms of the Dame Casey report which found that the force institutionally racist and misogynist.

    "For people whose trust we need back, I've got to reassure listeners but that Rowley does accept the findings of Dame Casey, but he doesn't accept the labels.

    "I do want to see wood from the trees, he does understand the importance of reform.

    "He's got rid of more officers and created a turnaround plan as well as a London Policing Board since he started his term."