The question is: is the question biased?

THE returning officer for Oldham’s congestion charge referendum has published a draft of the ballot paper he wants to send to 2.5 million people in Greater Manchester.

As revealed by the Chronicle, the question makes no mention of congestion charging and Sir Neil McIntosh’s ballot paper asks simply: “Do you agree with the Transport Innovation Fund Proposals?”

The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) executive board, made up of the leaders of the area’s 10 local authorities, will be asked to approve the contents of the ballot pack when they meet tomorrow.

The wording on the ballot paper was described as “partial and biased” by Manchester Blackley MP Graham Stringer during Prime Minister’s question time in the Commons last week.

However, the ballot paper also contains a preamble which says: “Please read the leaflet enclosed with this ballot paper which provides details of the Greater Manchester Transport Innovation Fund proposals. These involve both major investment in public transport improvements in Greater Manchester and a weekday, peak time-only, congestion charging scheme. Congestion charging would only be introduced after 80 per cent of the public transport improvements are in place and not before the summer of 2013.”

Sir Neil said: “I regret the continuing suggestion in some quarters that the question is biased because it does not mention the congestion charge.

“Now the recommended ballot paper has been published the public will be able to see for themselves that this is not the case.

“The wording on the ballot paper quite clearly mentions the congestion charge twice, just as it mentions the proposed investment in public transport twice. The question is immediately below this summary of the key issues of the Transport Innovation Fund proposals and is meant to be read in conjunction with it.

“This approach, using a preamble summary of a complex issue in combination with a simple, linked question is in accord with Electoral Commission guidelines.”

The ‘Yes’ campaigners today demanded an apology from the MP, saying: “Graham Stringer and other supporters of the ‘No’ campaign have deliberately attempted to mislead the public and undermine the credibility of the independent Returning Officer.

“Their claim that there would be no reference to the congestion charge has been shown to be completely and utterly wrong.

“If the ‘No’ campaign cannot even be trusted to tell the truth about something as simple as the wording on the ballot paper, what can they be trusted on?

“He and his colleagues should issue an unreserved apology to Sir Neil McIntosh without delay.”

Mr Stringer was unrepentant. He said: “It does not matter how close the preamble is to the question.

“In Edinburgh, congestion charging was in the question and in Manchester it is not. It is a fiddle and Sir Neil has got off to a terrible start.”

A yes vote would bring £3bn of public transport improvements, including a Metrolink line through Oldham town centre.