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Benali Hamdache, a Green Party London Assembly member, proposes a pay-per-mile scheme for drivers to fund the delayed extension of the Bakerloo line to Lewisham. At a fringe event at the Green Party conference, Hamdache argued that this user-based charging system could address the looming transport funding crisis in London, where frozen fuel duty has inadequately funded necessary improvements. While noting potential exemptions for disabled motorists and those who rely on cars for work, Hamdache suggested his proposal could build upon existing infrastructure like traffic and ULEZ cameras. This suggestion is likely to be controversial given Mayor Sadiq Khan's rejection of pay-per-mile charges during his tenure.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Benali Hamdache, a Green Party London Assembly member, proposed a pay-per-mile scheme for London motorists to fund the delayed extension of the Bakerloo Line to Lewisham. The proposal aims to address the looming transport funding crisis as Transport for London (TfL) struggles to secure financial support for the project. Despite being championed by politicians and businesses in southeast London, the extension remains unimplemented due to financial constraints. Hamdache argued that frozen fuel duty has inadequately funded necessary transport improvements, necessitating a new approach like smart user-based charging to ensure major investments are feasible.
Written for “Bakerloo Line Extension Funding” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.45, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 2 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 62914: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-07
A senior Green politician has called for London's motorists to help fund the long-delayed Bakerloo Line extension through a pay-per-mile charging scheme, reviving a debate Sir Sadiq Khan has repeatedly tried to shut down.
asserted
Khan → call → debate
Benali Hamdache, a Green Party London Assembly member, argued that City Hall needs a new approach to funding major transport investment and said a form of "smart user-based charging" could provide money for schemes such as the proposed extension of the Bakerloo Line to Lewisham.
uncertain
form → argue → Lewisham
The proposal comes as Transport for London continues to search for a viable funding package for the project, which has been championed by politicians and businesses in south-east London for years but remains stuck on the drawing board because of financial constraints.
asserted
which → come → constraints
Speaking at a fringe event at the Green Party conference, Mr Hamdache warned of what he described as a looming transport funding challenge.
asserted
he → speak → challenge
"There is a looming crisis in transport funding that none of us are really talking about," he said.
asserted
he → be → us
"Fuel duty, which has been frozen for too long because it's the politically easy thing to do, has not adequately funded the transport that we need."
asserted
we → freeze → that
He argued that drivers making non-essential journeys should contribute more towards the cost of improving London's transport network, while exemptions should remain for disabled motorists and people who rely on their cars for work.
asserted
who → argue → work
"The idea of a charging system that is proportionate, that asks people who drive the most for non-work-related reasons to contribute the most, would be a fresh approach to making sure that we actually have the money that London needs," he added.
asserted
he → ask → that
Mr Hamdache said a future charging scheme could build on infrastructure already in place through London's extensive network of traffic and ULEZ cameras.
uncertain
scheme → say → cameras
The intervention is likely to prove controversial given the political backlash generated by previous debates around road charging and the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone.
asserted
intervention → prove → Zone
Sir Sadiq has consistently rejected suggestions that Londoners could face a pay-per-mile charge while he remains Mayor.
uncertain
he → reject → charge
Read More
In 2023, he said transport officials routinely examine different options for the future but insisted: "As long as I am Mayor, we are not going to have pay-per-mile."
asserted
we → read → mile
The comments are nevertheless likely to fuel fresh discussion about how major transport projects should be funded as pressures grow on London's transport network.
asserted
pressures → fuel → network
Mr Hamdache has emerged as one of the Greens' most prominent voices at City Hall in recent months, also calling for greater devolution of powers to London and backing the use of new technology to improve public services and transport infrastructure.
TfL is continuing discussions with ministers and local authorities over the proposed Bakerloo Line extension, but officials have repeatedly stressed that a funding package remains essential before construction can begin.
asserted
construction → emerge → extension
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