Exclusive: The secret plan to charge London's drivers by the mile

Top-secret plan to charge London 's drivers by the mile was on the cusp of being implemented.

The pay-per-mile scheme, known as Next Generation Charging , was expected to be introduced in September 2026 .

TfL’s own modelling set out how the move would lead to a collapse in the number of cars on the roads.

Khan pulled the plug on the project ahead of his re-election campaign following claims by political opponents that Labour was pursuing a “war on the motorist”.

TfL has laid the groundwork for a top 2023 test run which would see its per-mile charging technology tested on London roads by the autumn.

All motor vehicles would be covered, and all charged the same amount, although it was possible that there could be a top-end daily cap on the maximum charged per driver.

Drivers would have to sign non-disclosure agreements to avoid being charged by the mile.

They would have been banned from allowing passengers in their vehicles or using them for personal trips.

The policy would charge drivers of older, polluting vehicles 12.50 a day to use their cars in the area.

It was highly controversial at the time that Ken Livingstone , Livingstone in 2004 , introduced the policy.