Two outer London Tory MPs have urged people to vote out London's mayor after a group of councils lost a legal bid to halt his expansion of the capital's ultra low emission zone.

A group of five Conservative-led councils today (July 28) lost their High Court challenge against Sadiq Khan’s plans to expand the capital’s ultra low emission zone (Ulez) to all of Greater London.

If it goes ahead, the extended Ulez will see drivers in outer London pay a £12.50 daily fee from August 29 if their vehicles do not meet required emissions standards.

The outer London boroughs of Harrow, Hillingdon, Bexley and Bromley, along with Surrey County Council claimed in court the mayor lacked the legal power to vary existing regulations to extend Ulez beyond the North and South Circular roads.

They also argued that there was an “unfair and unlawful” approach to collecting views.

Mr Justice Swift said the consultation on the scrappage scheme was “not in depth”, but was “lawful”.

Mr Khan described the judgment as a “landmark decision” and said he will press ahead as planned.

But Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers said: "After the failure of the legal challenge, there is only one way to stop Ulez expansion and that is to vote out Mayor Khan at the general election. Conservative candidate Susan Hall will cancel expansion on day one as mayor.

"Even though the court has ruled that the Ulez decision is not legally flawed, it is still the wrong political choice to press ahead with a scheme which will hit people in the suburbs with new charges to pay whilst having only a negligible impact on air quality.

"My campaign against Ulez expansion in Barnet will continue."

Harrow East MP Bob Blackman referred to the outcome of the Uxbridge and Hillingdon by-election, which Labour narrowly lost - with its own candidate blaming the Ulez expansion.

He said: "I am truly gutted to learn of the outcome from the judicial review on Sadiq Khan’s preposterous attack on drivers through expanding the ULEZ area. This outcome is not the end of our fight and is merely a road block. It is critical that we continue to work hard and find other ways to prevent this unlawful attack on drivers. If you haven’t already, please ensure you sign my petition via my website.

"Not only did the mayor ignore the 66% of Londoners against the expansion in the initial consultation, but he is continuing to show he is out of touch with the people whom he pretends to represent. In the recent Uxbridge by-election, nearly every doorstep complained against the expansion and he remains blind sighted to this opinion."

Mr Blackman said he was glad Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer had ordered Mr Khan to reflect on the Ulez expansion.

He added: "The Mayor claims to be there for the people of London and yet he intends to target the most vulnerable in society who cannot take public transport due to health issues or rely on cars for their unsociable shift work hours."

He called the scrappage sum of £2,000 "offensive" and nowhere near enough to fund vehicles that are needed for businesses. 

He added: "We will continue to pressure this decision and ensure that Sadiq Khan does not serve another term in office in the upcoming Mayoral elections next May."

Other MPs across Harrow, Brent, Barnet and Enfield were approached for comment but none had responded at the time of publication.