This Week in Politics
Sadiq Khan Rules Out Bolstering Ulez
London Mayor Sadiq Khan had vowed to not expand the highly contentious ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) initiative, set at tackling car air pollution. A bid to attract voters that might be alienated without a clarification. The London Mayor stated in a letter to the Transport for London commissioner that he did not want to introduce a pay-per-mile system alongside clarifying his view on the need to fight air pollution in other ways. Mr Khan finds it unnecessary to continue expanding the range of the Ulez scheme as well.
However, his opponent Conservative Susan Hall remains unconvinced; believing the mayor had been dishonest about the question before such as when he promised not to tax drivers or expand the ultra-low emissions zone. Moreover, she further said it was hard to believe that a £150 million project in creating the pay-per-mile initiative technology was not to be used. A spokesperson for Mr Khan responded by saying that the mayor has made his position clear; he does not want to expand the area or powers of the Ulez project. Both the candidates have an incentive to portray themselves or the opponent as pro-more Ulez or anti-more Ulez. The issue is divisive and since the last expansion, there has been much backlash portraying Mayor Sadiq Khan in a bad light for many. However, Mr Khan is significantly ahead in the polls suggesting he has no real incentive to try and broaden his support anymore, perhaps it's to completely secure the election on the 2nd of May, or it's a real opinion. Considering the circumstances the latter is more likely than the former.
Japanese LDP Hopes to put Scandal in the Past
The ruling Japanese Liberal Democratic Party has recommended prominent figures, of the faction once led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, leave the party - due to the findings of a LDP inquiry about a political funding scandal. The former education minister alongside the former Secretary-General of the LDP in the Upper House have seen the toughest consequences for their involvement, 39 members were reprimanded in total. The former economy minister and education minister were suspended from the party last year. The scandal has shaken the LDP to its core and followed the party to the most prominent figures. Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Fumio Kishida, did not see any punishment, the committee explaining that they did not investigate those that had less than ¥5 million in unreported funds. Polling suggests a major decline for the party, however, not just due to the scandal, though the scandal certainly does not help. Currently, there is no large-scale opposition to the LDP, in terms of a bigger party, and it remains to be seen if a coalition opposing the incumbents could garner enough traction for the general election next year.
