Nigel Farage tonight insisted the Government has the power to block Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion.
The zone will cover all London boroughs in just a fortnight meaning more motorists will be forced to pay the £12.50 daily charge for the most polluting vehicles in a bid to boost air quality.
But the former Ukip and Brexit Party leader urged Mark Harper to intervene as he pointed to Article 143 of the Greater London Authority Act of 1999.
Under the act, the Transport Secretary has the power to torpedo any proposals by the London Mayor that are “inconsistent” with national transport policies and “detrimental” to areas outside Greater London.
Speaking on his GB News show, Mr Farage said: “So let’s look at this. What is without doubt is that Khan’s policy of ULEZ extension is detrimental, that’s the word, to every county that borders Greater London, whether it’s Essex or Kent or Surrey or Bedfordshire or wherever it may be.
“It is because the number of people living outside the ULEZ area who’ve got their vans,who go into London to do their business, nurses that live outside the Greater London who’ve got cars that aren’t compliant.
“And remember, the only people that will pay this charge are those who haven’t got the money to have new compliant motorcars.
“This is a tax on the poorer end of society. So that’s without doubt that it’s detrimental to areas outside of Greater London.”
Turning to whether it would be at odds with national policies on transport, Mr Farage highlighted how the Tories are against the ULEZ expansion, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also spoken out against it.
He said: “Well, you could argue that during Boris’s green phase they probably when Khan put this forward the Conservative Party wasn’t that bothered about it.
“But there’s been a big change in this and at the moment the Conservatives do not support this ULEZ charge.
“And interestingly, nor does Sir Keir Starmer because not only as he said he would not support ULEZ-style zones going around other towns and cities in this country, he’s also now said he’s opposed to this one.”
Mr Farage said the move would boost Rishi Sunak’s party, who are trailing behind Labour in the polls, as he urged Mr Harper to go ahead with it.
He said: “So the Conservatives have a chance to delay all of this. And yes, of course, Sadiq Khan may take them to a judicial review to test the law, but that would kick the can way down the road, certainly past the Mayoral elections next May and even perhaps quite close to the next general election.
“This is something the Conservatives could do that would boost their popularity and, frankly, I think split the Labour Party in many ways.
“And save many people, pensioners, small businesses, those who haven’t got expensive motor cars from an awful lot of pain.
“It seems to me to be absolutely a no-brainer that Mark Harper needs to liven up, roll his sleeves up and get involved in the fight.”
The London Mayor was contacted for comment by express.co.uk.
