‘Rubbish!’ Ulez supporter heckled as Londoners challenge Khan’s expansion

He claimed Khan’s policy would benefit residents across the capital and called on the UK Government to reduce the price of public transport to provide further support during the current cost-of-living crisis.

McCarthy argued: “Today, from my perspective, is a very positive day for London’s asthmatics.

“There are 500,000 asthmatic people living with asthma in London and 12 children die every year from asthma in London.

“I have met the parents of those children and it’s heartbreaking.

“As a child, I had asthma and if you have an acute asthma attack it is likely smothered by pollution.

“The idea the Mayor was elected on a democratic mandate to clean London’s air twice and he has the political courage to do that, despite the media attack on him, so in my view today is a positive day for democracy and a positive day for cleaner air in London.”

He also argued Londoners should receive support from the Tory Government, adding: “80 per cent of poorer Londoners do not have a car.”

However, not everyone in the audience appeared to agree with McCarthy.

Members of the audience shouted “rubbish” as Farage went on to point out how residents in outer London boroughs are particularly reliant on cars.

They continued to heckle when McCarthy persisted in defending his position.

Mike Rutherford, co-founder and chief columnist at Auto Express, also challenged McCarthy’s claim.

He argued: “Who doesn’t want clean air? We all do.

“This notion that somehow the motorist is happy to live with dirty air is ridiculous, we don’t want that either.

“But why, oh why, oh why, is the exhaust pipe of the car being blamed for everything?”

Rutherford was applauded by the audience in South East London.