PM on the ropes as London Tories rail against extension of congestion charge | The Guardian
MPs warn of ‘blood on the walls’ amid talks with Sadiq Khan over bailout for capital’s transport network
Michael SavageSun 25 Oct 2020 08.15 GMT
Conservative figures in London say an extension of the congestion charge should ‘not be tolerated’. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP
Boris Johnson is facing mounting pressure from Tory MPs in London to comprehensively rule out a massive extension of the congestion charge in the capital, amid emergency talks over a new bailout for its struggling transport system.
Conservative figures warned there would be “blood on the walls” if the government allowed the extension of the charge, which would hit a series of so-called “London doughnut” Tory seats on the outskirts of the city. They are also demanding there must be no threat to subsidised travel for the young or older people, also proposed as an option by the government as a condition of a further bailout.
