Labour Assembly members tell Khan to launch speeding fines scandal inquiry

Labour London Assembly members have demanded that Lord Khan launch an independent investigation into a speeding fines scandal exposed by The Telegraph. On Thursday, members passed a motion calling on the Mayor of London to commission an external inquiry into how at least 66,000 motorists were prosecuted after a speed limit had been introduced unlawfully. From October 2023 to October 2024, thousands of drivers using the A20 in south-east London were prosecuted for speeding after Transport for London temporarily lowered the speed limit from 70mph to 40mph following flooding.

However, The Telegraph revealed that the change had been introduced unlawfully and TfL had continued with prosecutions, despite officials knowing there had been a problem for two years. Lord Khan was accused of a cover-up after he previously vetoed an independent investigation into the temporary speed limit change. The assembly, including Labour members, has voted again in favour of “justice for Londoners” and restoring “confidence in TfL” by calling for an “immediate” external investigation.

Thomas Turrell, the City Hall Conservatives’ transport spokesman, said: “The calls for an independent investigation are too loud to ignore. “I want to thank the Assembly for supporting my motion calling on the authorities to finally look into how this scandal has been able to unfold, and what can be done to support motorists wrongly penalised.” Mr Turrell was joined by Elly Baker, another assembly member, who said: “It’s important that Transport for London makes decisions about speed limits in the right way, and that drivers can have confidence that they are enforced fairly.

“That’s why the assembly has again called for an independent investigation to establish the facts, those affected get the answers they deserve, and any lessons are learnt.” The fallout from the A20 speeding fines scandal threatens to damage the mayor personally after he vetoed the previous London Assembly vote calling on him to bring in independent investigators. Instead of agreeing to an external inquiry, Lord Khan supported an internal review by TfL, which critics argued left the matter in the hands of the transport body responsible for the original fallout.

Laura Trott, the Conservative MP for Sevenoaks, said: “What happened on the A20 is an outrage. At least 60,000 people received fines, which should have led to someone at TfL realising there was a problem with signage. “Instead of using common sense and waiving the fines, TfL prosecuted thousands of people, in some cases leading to them losing their licences and jobs.” Ms Trott also referred to The Telegraph’s revelation that Kingston Crown Court had ruled that a motorist should have his fine overturned because it was unlawful.

She said: “Now we know TfL made a mistake in setting up the temporary speed restriction, which should mean they hold their hands up, admit their error and provide drivers with advice on how to have their fines and points rescinded. “It should also establish a compensation scheme for drivers who demonstrate they suffered financial loss. However, instead of doing the right thing, TfL are dragging their feet and trying to defend their original error.

It’s not good enough, people deserve better, and I and my fellow Conservative MPs will not stop fighting for justice for those affected.” In October 2023, TfL officials used a traffic order to change the speed limit from 70mph to 40mph on the A20 between Sidcup, south-east London, and Swanley in Kent after cars skidded off the road following heavy rain. An average speed camera was fitted and about 62,000 drivers were fined in the first six weeks alone.

A year later, after drainage work to make the A20 safer, the speed limit was returned to 70mph. Many motorists simply accepted the £100 fine and three penalty points on their licences. When drivers did challenge their fines and go to court, TfL managers and Metropolitan Police workers testified under oath that the speed limit had been changed lawfully. However, last month, a court acquitted a driver of speeding after it was presented with a document marked “TfL RESTRICTED”, which showed that the TfL official who signed the order did not have the authority to do so.

Lawyers said the ruling would not automatically pave the way for other convictions to be overturned, because Crown Court judgments did not create binding legal precedents. However, it was expected to lead to legal action by thousands of motorists who wanted to clear their names. TfL and the Met have been accused of colluding to hide the truth from courts, preferring instead to collect £6m in fines from drivers – an accusation both organisations deny.

Earlier this week, TfL and the Met vowed to press on regardless with prosecutions, claiming the traffic order had been issued lawfully, despite the court’s finding that it had not. A TfL spokesman previously said: “It is incorrect to suggest that TfL or its staff misled the courts or anybody else in this case and any suggestion of wrongdoing, or that evidence or information was improperly withheld, is false. “We remain confident that enforcement of the speed limit here was necessary, given the safety risks, and we will be resisting forthcoming appeals challenging our enforcement action.

“While we are aware of this Crown Court ruling, we understand that it does not set a binding precedent on any other cases and we will be supporting the Metropolitan Police in resisting the upcoming appeals. “Safety is our number one priority and we temporarily introduced a 40mph speed limit on the A20 Sidcup Road in response to a number of serious incidents caused by ongoing flooding issues, which posed a risk to life. After we repaired and resurfaced the road, the temporary speed restriction was removed.”

A spokesman for Lord Khan previously said: “It is incorrect to suggest that the Mayor or TfL misled anybody in relation to these fines, and TfL remain confident that enforcement of the speed limit here was necessary given the safety risks. “No wrongdoing was alleged by the court, traffic regulation orders were made lawfully, and all TfL staff acted in accordance with authorisation.” The Mayor of London’s press office has been approached for comment.