Theresa Villiers wants to give ministers the power to block the mayor of London’s decisions relating to transport and air quality reports David Floyd

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers who is seeking to enable government minister to block the mayor of London's decisions on transport and the environment — Theresa Villiers MP has introduced a bill to curb the power of the mayor of London

A local MP has introduced a bill to parliament that would give government ministers the right to review and overturn decisions taken by the mayor of London.

Chipping Barnet representative Theresa Villiers put forward the Ten-Minute Rule bill to amend the Greater London Authority Act 1999 last week in a bid to curb the powers of Sadiq Khan to introduce measures including the controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Ten Minute Rule bills rarely become law and are primarily used as a mechanism for backbench MPs to raise awareness of an issue.

In her speech introducing the bill, the former environment secretary said: “In my 18 years as MP for Chipping Barnet, almost nothing has provoked such strong opposition as the mayor of London’s plan to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone.

She added: “It comes up on almost every doorstep and at almost every meeting. People stop me in the street to tell me how strongly they feel about this.

In January, Conservative councillors in Barnet raised concerns about the financial impact of the ULEZ scheme as council leader Barry Rawlings defended his Labour administration’s decision to support it.

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