The Telegraph understands that future TfL Ulez advertising will be clearly sourced to comply with advertising industry regulations.
The ASA’s findings will be an embarrassment to both TfL and transport authority Chairman Khan, after £9 million was spent on a “marketing blitz” ahead of the controversial Ures expansion.
A series of six-month radio, TV and newspaper ads from January 2023 touted the expansion of the Ures scheme, claiming it had improved London’s air quality.
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK and Reform UK’s London mayoral candidate, branded the ad a “cash-grabbing political attack on London’s drivers” and said: “The Sadiq Khan mayoral election fraud is a grand canyon. It’s deeper than that.”
Tony Devenish, the London Conservative Party’s environment spokesman, said: “Sadiq Khan and TfL have been found to be making misleading and unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of Uress to Londoners.” . This will surprise no one.
“Sadiq Khan has a history of making misleading and false claims. After all, he told us he would not expand Ures outside London and that is exactly what he did. It’s gone.”
The Telegraph revealed the ASA’s conclusions on advertising in November 2023. Wednesday’s ruling is very similar to the watchdog’s draft findings in 2023.
A further three complaints about two other Ulez advertisements were not upheld in the ASA report.
The next London mayoral election will be held in May 2024, with Labour’s incumbent Mr Khan running for a third term. His rivals include Conservative candidate Susan Hall and Reform UK’s Howard Cox.