Town Creates Bonfire Night Effigy of Sadiq Khan

A town in Kent is causing a stir by creating a bonfire night effigy of London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The effigy, standing at 35ft tall, will be set alight in Edenbridge as a symbol of the town's opposition to Khan's Ulez car crackdown.

Ulez Crackdown Hits Residents

Residents of Edenbridge have been hit hard by the extended Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) levy. Even if they drive just a few miles closer to the capital, they are now required to pay the daily fee for polluting vehicles. In protest, the town has chosen Khan as their annual "villain" Guy.

Annual Tradition

The Edenbridge Bonfire Society has a tradition of creating effigies of public figures for bonfire night, with previous "villains" including Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, and Saddam Hussein. This year, Sadiq Khan was chosen by popular demand over other contenders.

Reason for Selection

The decision to choose Khan was based on his extension of the Ulez scheme, which aims to clean up London's air. However, residents outside the extended zone feel that they have been unfairly affected by the decision without any support.

Torch-Lit Parade

On November 4, a torch-lit carnival procession involving 550 people will parade the effigy of Sadiq Khan through Edenbridge High Street. The event is expected to draw nearly 10,000 attendees from London, Surrey, Kent, and Sussex.

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