LEECH TO SIT ON TRANSPORT SELECT COMMITTEE

12.06.27am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th Jul 2005

Newly-elected Liberal Democrat MP, John Leech, has been selected to serve on the hugely influential Transport Select Committee in Parliament.

Selecting John Leech MP (Manchester Withington) for this committee shows the commitment that the Liberal Democrats have to delivering Metrolink to south Manchester and across Greater Manchester.

The contrast could not be clearer between the Liberal Democrats' commitment to Metrolink, in putting local MP John Leech on the select Committee and the Government's Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman turning down a meeting to progress the Metrolink 'Big Bang'.

John Leech MP has already put more pressure on the government since his election by sponsoring a motion in Parliament pressing the government to fund all three Metrolink lines.

John Leech MP said "One of the reasons Labour was rejected here in Manchester Withington was Metrolink. The government just didn't listen.

"I will be using this opportunity to serve on the Transport Select Committee to fight for the Metrolink Big Bang and to hold the government to account. Manchester needs all three lines.

The people of south Manchester need Metrolink now, more than ever, because congestion is getting worse and worse."