Manchester City Council is closing in on illegal street traders, with help from MPs. The local authority has won parliamentary backing to give trading standards officers the power to seize goods sold by traders, and issue fixed penalties. A majority of 307 MPs voted in favour of the Manchester City Council Bill last month. It now goes before a select committee and, if successful, could become law next year. Cllr Jim Battle, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said: ‘We recognise we still have some way to go to ensure our Bill and the others are passed, but this vote is very encouraging.'