Whe prime minister might have undermined any chance of a congestion charge for Greater Manchester being endorsed in a referendum. He visited the area last week, where the soaring cost of petrol has boosted already-strong opposition to the charging element of a major public transport investment plan. With pressure mounting for concessions around elements such as charging boundaries and private hire cars, the Association of Greater Manchester Councils is set to trigger a county-wide referendum – a move the leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, previously opposed. If all 10 authorities agree to be bound by the result, a yes vote could provide the basis for a binding agreement between them to progress the scheme. But Trafford's Tory leader, Susan Williams, has already refused to be tied to the county-wide vote. The controversy about the congestion charge cannot be divorced from Labour's perilous national position. Eight Labour marginals lie in Manchester's travel-to-work area. Questioned about the levy during his visit, the prime minister said: ‘It's for the people to decide. Of course, this is a package, and we'll have to look at it again.' Which could imply that Mr Brown is anticipating a no vote, and is already thinking ahead. Is it possible that, following rejection in a referendum, the whole scheme could be dropped, saving a political backlash? Or could the public transport investment still be made by increasing the scheme's borrowing limits above the current £1.8bn, with no congestion charge? The elected mayor referendum in Bury this week (3 July) will be an early test of public opinion about the issue, as campaigners for the post claimed a yes vote would fend off the congestion charge.
