A Kent MP has hit out at Sadiq Khan's expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), calling it the most "undemocratic" tax in the country's history.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson has accused the London Mayor of erecting a “financial wall” between the capital and the rest of the country through planned changes to the pollution charge zone.

Speaking during a debate on the ULEZ expansion in Westminster Hall earlier, Mr Johnson said: “The decision by the Labour Mayor of London to extend the scheme to cover the whole of London will be catastrophic for my constituency which neighbours London.

“Currently the border is fairly frictionless. Thousands of times a day people drive across the border, often without even knowing it.

"This is good for London and for Kent and other neighbouring counties."

But the Tory MP claimed Mr Khan was now "building a financial wall" between the capital and the home counties.

It comes after the Labour Mayor confirmed plans at the end of last month to further expand the ULEZ to all London boroughs by the end of August next year.

The daily fee is £12.50 for non-compliant cars, motorcycles and vans.

Mr Khan, who announced earlier today he would stand for a third term, claimed its extension would mean millions more people will be able to "breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives”.

But its opponents claim it will do little to solve the capital's toxic air problem and is a "money-grab" to help bolster the "cash-strapped" mayor.

Mr Johnson, a former lawyer and government minister, claimed the move would have "unintended consequences" for motorists and the local economy.

He told today's debate: “If you are a small business, particularly in outer London and rely on customers travelling to you then this form of taxation will crucify your business."

Mr Johnson said supermarket chain Asda had also contacted him with concerns over the impact it will have on depot workers with it being estimated over half will have non-compliant vehicles.

He also accused the mayor of ignoring the consultation response which showed more than 60% were opposed to the expansion at this time.

“The consultation frankly was a sham," Mr Johnson said. "His decision doesn’t reflect what people have told him.”

“We are not Londoners in Kent. It is quite literally taxation without representation.

“It is aimed at those who can’t vote him out of office and those who don't vote for him.

“It is the most debilitating, unfair, undemocratic form of taxation this country has ever seen."

“It is the most debilitating, unfair, undemocratic form of taxation this country has ever seen."

During the debate, Labour MP for Swansea West Geraint Davies hit back at the criticisms accusing Tory members of “gambling with people’s lives".

“We are talking about life and death here," he said. "And we do know from the studies that have been done that there will be a massive reduction in PM2.5 and of NOX and indeed there would be a major contribution to mitigating climate change.”

He claimed the most recent expansion of the scheme to the north and south circular roads last October had been successful.

“If we don’t do this , we end up with 550,000 people unnecessarily getting pollution related diseases in the next 30 years and a cost estimate of 10.4 billion pounds.”

The former Croydon MP pointed to a recent report from chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty praising the action to tackle air pollution.

But Dartford MP Gareth Johnson hit back, saying: “this is about money and not about pollution.”

“Nobody disputes the fact that we need clean air,” he said. In Dartford we have very poor air. But this is frankly a mask used by the Mayor of London to raise money.

"It just so happens it raises hundreds of millions of pounds and it just so happens he has a blackhole in his finances.”

“I feel sick to my stomach that the people who cannot vote out the Mayor of London like Dartfordians cannot do a thing about this.

“It is not right, It is not fair and the whole thing should be stopped.”

The debate was called in by the Kent MP and examined the Mayor of London’s plan to expand the ULEZ to the whole of London next August.

If it goes ahead, it will see drivers of cars, smaller vans, motorbikes and other lighter vehicles, which do not meet the emissions standard, charged £12.50 daily for journeys into the capital.

Confused by what exactly changes to London's ULEZ means for us in Kent? Click here to find out how it might affect you.

At the conclusion of the debate, Transport Minister Richard Holden said: "I will be writing to all honourable members across London and the South East in the coming days around some of the important questions that have not only been raised in today's debate but also in our more recent meetings.

"I will also be assured that across government we will continue to ensure the Mayor is held accountable for his decisions in our capital city."

Prior to the debate, Mr Khan said he had considered concerns and made some changes, for example, the expansion of a grace period for disabled people to update their vehicles. Community transport and charities will also be covered by the grace period.

The mayor also announced that the Greater London Authority would be setting up a £110million scrappage scheme to help people replace their polluting cars.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor has been clear that it was not an easy decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide but a necessary one to reduce the capital’s toxic air pollution, tackle the climate emergency and cut congestion in our city.

"Around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to the toxic air in our city with the greatest number of deaths attributable to air pollution in London’s outer boroughs, which the ULEZ doesn’t currently cover.

"Children across London are growing up with stunted lungs while adults have greater risk of heart disease, dementia and other serious illnesses.

"Expanding the ULEZ London-wide will strike the best balance between maximising the health and environmental benefits for Londoners while minimising the cost to drivers.”