Diane Abbott, London Mayoral candidate, accuses Boris Johnson of failing Londoners over toxic air

Diane Abbott, one of the people in the running to be Labour’s candidate for London Mayor, has secured a debate on toxic air pollution in London.

Abbott, who is the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, has seen to it that the issue is debate over an-hour-and-a-half in Parliament next Tuesday.

This comes as pressure mounts on Boris Johnson, current London Mayor, to look further into pollution in the capital. Johnson has said he would bring in a ultra-low emission zone by 2020. However, in Februrary the London Assembly warned Johnson this was much too slow and the area it would cover needs to be widened, to include a much larger area of the capital. Abbott has joined this criticism, arguing  “Boris has failed to take the issue seriously and has failed Londoners.”

Abbott also said that Liz Truss, Environment Secretary needs to hasten introducing clear air measures.