Increasingly desperate about his poll ratings the Prime Minister has turned to dumping green policies as Europe burns. The Tories managed by just under 500 votes to hold Boris Johnson’s old seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip and claimed that stirring up the introduction of new charges for the ULEZ ( Ultra Low Emissions Zone) being extended to all vehicles entering Greater London helped them hold it. Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, bought the argument.

For the record two other reasons also contributed to counter that view. Despite ULEZ the Green Party polled 893 votes taking more than enough votes from Labour to deny them the seat. And the seat has a substantial Indian minority – who are thrilled to have an Indian PM – with many mothers dubbing him “Dishy Rishi” as they see him as a trailblazer for the future community.

But Sunak’s short term populist stance on these issues aimed at the “boy racer” motorist vote is going to have a devastating effect on the health and lives of ordinary people. In the space of a week the PM has signalled he is against ULEZ, against 20mph speed limits, against restrictions on cars in residential neighbourhoods and in favour of a massive expansion of oil and gas in the North Sea. If he gets more desperate I can see him dropping the ban of new diesel and petrol cars and promising the combustion engine will live forever in the UK.

Bill Esterson Labour’s business and industry spokesman Pic credit: Industry Forum

And none of this is good for long term planning for business to transition to net zero as Labour’s shadow business and industry spokesman, Bill Esterson points out. It could even damage our own car industry as every country we export is switching to electric cars.

As he says: “Over 70% of our car exports go to markets that have already set a phase-out date of fossil vehicles.

Other countries are committed to the transition away from fossil fuels. And they are keeping their commitments.”

All these measures will damage the health of people and cost lives. That is why I think he deserves the title of the Road Kill PM – the roads of the UK will not only be littered with dead wildlife but dead and injured children and pedestrians.

Take the ULEZ zone itself. This is as much a public health issue as an environmental one. Children have died in London because of it so Sadiq Khan is right to introduce it. And the Tories are hypocritical about the zone – it was demanded by Grant Shapps, as transport secretary as part of a cash settlement to bail out Transport for London during the Covid crisis. So it could be called the “Grant Shapps” ULEZ zone as much as Khan’s.

In France ineligible cars are BANNED not charged in Ulez zones

Also drivers chaffing at paying the charge should know that this initiative is not confined to the UK. If they drive to France on holiday they will find they are not charged but banned from driving in a growing number of big city centres and could be fined. And all eligible cars and motorbikes have to carry a clean air sticker or you cannot drive in France.

No wonder doctors have written Sunak and Khan to say.

“Air pollution affects every one of us from before we are born into old age. It not only causes respiratory conditions such as asthma, but also heart attacks, heart arrhythmias, strokes, child developmental disorders, lung cancer and dementia.

“Ulez works. It has already saved lives and prevented many illnesses and hospital admissions.”

As for reviewing 20 mph limits in cities including London. There is no question that will result in more deaths and injuries.

Brake, the road safety charity, says:

“A vehicle travelling at 20mph would stop in time to avoid a child running out three car-lengths in front. The same vehicle travelling at 25mph would not be able to stop in time, and would hit the child at 18mph. This is roughly the same impact as a child falling from an upstairs window.

The greater the impact speed, the greater the chance of death. A pedestrian hit at 30mph has a very significant (one in five) chance of being killed. “

Latest statistics for London show the number of collisions has reduced by 25% (from 406 to 304), and collisions resulting in death or serious injury have also reduced by 25% (from 94 to 71), demonstrating the huge impact of lowering speeds to 20mph on many roads.

But for Rishi Sunak to get his votes back and stay in power obviously a few more children or pedestrians killed or maimed every year are a price worth paying. Anyway he seems to go most places by helicopter.

Then there is the big boost to finding North Sea oil with 100 new licences to be issued by the government. Again this is going down the wrong track. The North Sea is not the only place being explored when I was in Namibia a big exploration was under way near Walvis Bay which could yield an enormous new field. At some point the big increase in electric vehicles is going to meet the burgeoning supply of oil and as demand for oil falls so will the price until it becomes uneconomic.

The security claim is rubbish too – since it will be traded on the open market. What is true is that Rishi Sunak’s family firm Infosys will personally benefit every time BP gets a licence as they signed a deal with the oil giant just before the exploration licences were announced. His wealthy family will see the petrodollars rolling in, the more BP win concessions. No doubt the cash will be hidden in some offshore tax account so we won’t know about it.

Next month Rishi Sunak will be in Delhi for the G20 summit and the press there is already very excited about him coming there. Politico Europe is already suggesting he will be mobbed by ecstatic Hindus. And the Times of India has heralded his arrival in Downing Street as a move from ” Empire to the Rishi Raj”. Others see this as revenge for Britain’s Imperial past ruling India. Now Rishi rules over the British people instead.

Given his penchant for exorbitant expensive helicopter rides over mundane journeys by rail or road I have found the perfect charter company for his travel. It is called Maharaja Aviation and runs a fleet of helicopters. He can fly like a modern fabulous wealthy maharaja across India dispensing baubles to the masses. And in the meantime he can forget the country he rules with its sky high mortgages and rents, sewage in the seas and rivers, food inflation and its demonising of other foreigners who try to seek sanctuary on its shores.

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