Labour opposes Labour, Lib Dem backs Labour - surreal politics!

Councillor Colin Lambert

Labour councillor Colin Lambert's motion to support the extension of an integrated public transport network in Greater Manchester, including the Metrolink extension to Rochdale, but to oppose the introduction of congestion charging added to the surreal atmosphere in Rochdale Council Chamber as Councillor Lambert attacked the proposals of his fellow Labour member and chairman of GMPTA Councillor Jones and that of his local party leader Allen Brett who supports the congestion charge.

Who should come riding over the hill on white horses charging to the beleaguered Labour chairman's rescue? The Liberal Democrats, and at the front of his chargers, Lib Dem leader of the council Alan Taylor!

Councillor Lambert accused Councillor Taylor of hypocrisy for signing up to oppose the congestion charge in Middleton and then in a spectacular U-turn to support it in Rochdale. He said that in agreeing to accept the concept of a congestion charge, Councillor Taylor was now negotiating from a point of weakness, labelling the TIF bid with a new nickname, the 'IF' bid! He concluded by saying he could not believe the council had agreed to the congestion charge with so little detail known.

In reply, the surreal political atmosphere prevailed as Lib Dem Council Leader Alan Taylor said: “I would first like to thank Councillor Roger Jones, the Labour Chairman of the GMPTA.  He did an excellent job presenting the benefits of this once in a lifetime opportunity before the meeting.  I think it’s a shame that his Labour Colleagues didn’t listen to his vision. 

"This time last year I couldn’t support the bid as we had no details how our Borough would benefit.  Since then details have emerged of a transport revolution in our Borough.  These include a significant improvement in bus times and reliability, the introduction of real time passenger information, on-bus passenger information, passenger security and safety and improved traffic management and control systems.  The additional investment in new high specification Yellow School Buses - a safe and efficient way of travelling to school will be especially welcome.  This will improve the lives of many families across our Borough.  I also welcome the commitment to extending Metrolink to Rochdale Town Centre and also provide access to the new Kingsway Business Park and other areas in the Borough.

He added: "There will be other transport improvements across the Borough and I will be pushing for a rail spur from Heywood Station to connect it to Castleton.  I think it’s a shame and an embarrassment to Labour Groups across Greater Manchester that Labour has tried to derail the excellent package available."

Criticising the Vice-Chairman of the GMPTA, Councillor Allen Brett, for missing the debate, deliberately he believed because he was out of step with his local colleagues in support for the congestion charge, not so said Councillor Brett, he simply had a prior "family engagement", Councillor Taylor said: "Councillor Brett arrived seconds after the end of the debate and waited outside just to make sure that he missed it.  To do this with a poor excuse is a severe dereliction of duty.  He will no doubt continue to pocket thousands of pounds in allowances for his transport role despite this betrayal."

It will come as no surprise to anyone who follows such council meetings that with the exception of Conservative councillor Robert Clegg, who chose to abstain, the voting went along party lines with all the Lib Dems supporting the charge and all the Labour members and the other Conservative members against. So predictable was the vote that one has to wonder if the insistence on a named vote was a waste of time.

The Lib Dems winning the vote to oppose the motion 31-23.

Councilor Taylor said after the meeting: "No congestion charging will be introduced before there is a significant improvement in Greater Manchester's public transport. 

"I am pleased to have defeated this motion."