There will be no investigation into the London Mayor’s deputy for environment over reports that she urged scientists to counter research relating to low emissions zones, the Mayor's office has said today.
Yesterday, the London Assembly called for the Mayor’s office and Greater London Authority to carry out an ‘urgent investigation’ into the claims.
The London Assembly said such ‘interference’ risked damaging public confidence in officials and undermining public support for ULEZ and future mayoral policies.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, who seconded the motion calling for an investigation, said: ‘Any report of politicians applying political pressure to change the outcome of a scientific report should worry anyone in a democratic society.
‘Political interference in academia would risk undermining the public’s trust both in politics, politicians and legitimate scientific studies.’
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: ‘The deputy mayor has helped to lead the work on cleaning up London’s toxic air – acting upon the expertise and advice of London’s world-leading scientists.
‘It is standard practice across government to commission independent experts to carry out research to inform the work we do.’
If this article was of interest, then check out our features, 'Now I am become Uxbridge, destroyer of rational climate discourse' and 'Home County drivers face taxation without representation'.
