London mayor race: Lib Dems announce plans to fight road congestion

Mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon would increase the capital's congestion charge and explore introducing a new zone around Heathrow

London's congestion charge zone would by made "smarter and more flexible" and more expensive to enter if the capital elects a Liberal Democrat mayor on 5 May. A new report by the party's mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon recommends a rise in the daily charge collected by automated payment from the current 10.50 to 13 with a higher automated charge of 19 on vehicles entering the zone "at the height of the rush hour" in order to deter traffic from entering the centre of the city.

In what Pidgeon describes as a potential "game changer" in tackling London's high levels of air pollution she would also slap an additional flat-rate of 2.50 on all diesel-powered vehicles subject to the charge, claiming that this would bring forward the benefits of the forthcoming Ultra Low Emission Zone, which is not scheduled to be activated until 2020.