Labour's Congestion Charge Hypocrisy

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Sep 2007

Manchester Lib Dem Leader Cllr Simon Ashley today accused Council Leader Richard Leese of hypocrisy over comments he made praising Stockholm's Congestion charge scheme.

Cllr Ashley said:

"Richard Leese praises Stockholm's congestion charge scheme, but an essential part of the success of Stockholm's scheme was that there was a referendum. The people of Stockholm had a vote on their scheme!"

Cllr Ashley added:

"Why won't Cllr Leese let the people of Greater Manchester have the same say over Cllr Leese's plans that the people of Stockholm had over theirs?"

Ends...

Manchester Liberal Democrats are supporting Greater Manchester's funding bid for Government money to improve public transport but want to see a Greater Manchester-wide referendum to decide whether congestion charging is introduced

Question Six on the opinion polling being used in July 2007 by the authorities asks:

Would you agree or disagree with the principle of a combined package of £3 billion improvements in transport in Greater Manchester that also included greater local control over buses and rail and the introduction of congestion charging for vehicles using the busiest roads at peak times on weekdays?