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PIERS Morgan has accused Sadiq Khan of making it “impossible” for many key workers to use their cars by raising the congestion charge.

The GMB host bashed the London mayor for hiking the congestion charge to £15 a day this week, sparking outcry from key workers.

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 The mayor was confronted over his massive hike to the congestion charge
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The mayor was confronted over his massive hike to the congestion charge

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for all key workers to be exempt, and now Mr Khan has been forced to defend the policy in a heated interview.

Piers asked who set the new £15 charge, and who extended the hours that it applies to.

Mr Khan insisted: “The Government says we have to widen the scope, so it’s TFL, it’s us.”

Rounding on the Labour politician, Mr Morgan insisted: “It’s you.

“You decided the scope, own the scope you then went for.”

He asked: “Are all these essential workers having to pay these punitive extra charges to use their cars?”

The mayor replied: “Had I not widened the scope or increased the charges I'd have been in breach of the agreement.

“Those who work in the NHS or those who work in care homes are exempt from the conditions.”

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The telly host asked: “What about teachers, police officers, firefighters? They are all paying it right?”

Mr Khan replied: “The intention is for all others to pay the congestion charge when it changes.”

A furious Piers interrupted, saying: “You are really going to charge essential workers £100 a week to use their car during a crisis of this magnitude when they have to go to work often in order to save our lives?

“Is anything ever your fault?

“You made it impossible for many to use their cars, what are they going to do?”

The charge does not apply to workers in the NHS or care homes.

Appearing at the London Assembly today, Mr Khan insisted the Government knew the plans and were in constant communication.

He said: "If the government aren’t happy with the proposals, it’s open for them to say they don’t like them.

"So far they’ve not said that, so widening the scope and the level which they gov have asked us to do, it enables us to meet that agreement."

The congestion charge will go up from £11.50 to £15 from June 1st, and the hours it will apply will be extended.

It's currently only applied between 7am and 6pm on a week day, but will be extended to 10pm and run seven days a week.

The 30 per cent hike will particularly hit white van man and other tradespeople who have to travel around the capital for work.

The Mayor has blamed the Government for forcing him to act - saying the £1.6billion bailout was the "only deal on the table".

He said that all NHS and care home workers will be reimbursed for any coronavirus-related journeys, including their commute.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: "The Labour Mayor of London seems to be everything he can to sabotage the capital's economic recovery from the Covid-crisis.

"First it was a lack of public transport services in cahoots with his union paymasters and now this. This risks forcing more people on to the Tube and increasing the rate of infection again.

"What is Khan thinking? Londoners might wonder whose side he's on."

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