Congestion charge 'wrong for London'

Ken Livingstone's congestion charging scheme is the "wrong" one for the capital and should be delayed for two years, key members of the Greater London Authority will tell him tonight.

On the day the Mayor had been expected to announce whether he will proceed with his £5-a-day charge, he was instead being challenged by the GLA London Labour Group, which says the plan could damage London's economy and the technology on which it depends is too crude.

The group believes residents on the boundary will be swamped with diverted traffic and that essential workers still have not been granted exemptions to the £5-a-day charge.

At tonight's meeting, Mr Livingstone will be told that the daily charge is "flawed" as it will allow motorists who have paid the fee to cross the charging zone boundary as often as they wish.

Group leader John Biggs said: "The capacity of public transport to offer a reasonable alternative to the car needs to be demonstrated before the scheme goes ahead."

He maintained that the group agreed with congestion charging in principle and would back Mr Livingstone if he decided to go ahead.