Asked about his view of the controversy surrounding Mr Khan’s proposal to expand the ULEZ, Mr Livingstone said: “I would have started it - if I hadn’t lost to Boris, it would have been in operation for a decade. It’s going to save tens of thousands of lives.

“So many people die from air pollution in London. Boris, when he beat me, scrapped all my plans to tackle this because I was already working on it.

“And then in his eight years as Mayor, 76,000 Londoners died from air pollution. Fortunately, Sadiq Khan has taken that up now, and it’ll get better. But, that is our problem.”

He said: “I would be doing it if I was there. I just want a car free London, and everyone on the Tube and bus and the train.”