He continued: “The Ulez has already reduced toxic nitrogen dioxide air pollution by nearly half in central London and a fifth in inner London.

“The coming expansion will see five million more Londoners being able to breathe cleaner air.

“I’ve been listening to Londoners throughout the Ulez rollout, which is why from next week I am expanding the scrappage scheme to nearly a million families who receive child benefit and all small businesses with up to 50 employees. I will continue to look at new ideas to support Londoners.”

‘Our fight against Ulez has not stopped’

In a joint statement released by all five Conservative council leaders, they echoed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer by calling on Mr Khan to “further reflect” on his Ulez plan and insisted their fight had not stopped.

Cllr Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE, Leader of the London Borough of Bexley, said: “The judge may have said that the Mayor has the legal right to implement the scheme but, as we saw last week, there is also a moral judgment to consider. Even senior supporters of the Mayor have voiced their concerns around the expansion of this scheme.

Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of Hillingdon Council, said: “Even the Mayor’s own supporters are now saying that it is the wrong time to be expanding this scheme. Many thousands of low-income earners, vulnerable people ordinary workers and small businesses who are the beating heart of our borough will have to shoulder further costs which they cannot afford. It will cause even greater financial hardship and for some it will cause the loss of business or employment.

“We will continue our fight on behalf of our residents and business through Parliament and at next year’s Mayoral election.

Cllr Colin Smith, Leader of Bromley Council, said: “Today’s decision cannot be disguised as anything other than bitter disappointment for motorists in general, traders who will now have to consider ceasing business and laying off staff, those who will now have to change jobs and, most desperately of all, people who will no longer be able to support vital care networks for vulnerable people across the whole of outer London in particular.

“However, do please be assured that this is not the end of the matter and this battle will continue.”

Responding to the ruling, the Conservative Party’s London mayor candidate Susan Hall said: “While it is a shame the High Court did not find the Ulez expansion to be unlawful, there is no denying that Sadiq Khan’s plans will have a devastating impact on families and businesses across the city.

“If I am elected Mayor, I will stop the Ulez expansion on day one and set up a £50 million pollution hotspots fund to tackle the issue where it is, instead of taxing people where it isn’t.”

‘London’s Ulez has three major flaws’

Motoring groups also said they were disappointed following the High Court ruling.

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: “A restriction on car use that prices hundreds of thousands of low-income workers, families and elderly drivers off the road was inevitably going to cause a backlash.

“Today’s ruling is hugely disappointing but the AA hopes that the London mayor will now adopt some of the measures other cities with restrictions have used to reduce the impact on drivers who can least cope with them.

“The London Ulez suffers from three huge flaws: lack of public transport alternatives in many parts of outer London, the minimal time between the decision to go ahead and its implementation, and its massively disproportionate impact on those drivers least able to afford to update their vehicles.

“Most of these were identified in the impact assessment carried out for the Mayor but were ignored.