Cllr Iain Roberts, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on TfGM, has rejected Labour demands that he not speak to the media or call for a Greater Manchester travel smartcard.

“It was bizarre.” Iain said. “I was just about to congratulate TfGM on agreeing to deliver a travel smartcard when the Labour Group launched their attack on me. They told me that the smartcard I wanted couldn’t possibly be done by Christmas and that I shouldn’t have spoken to the media at all. My behaviour was described as ‘disgraceful’ by the Chair, Andrew Fender. And all the time I’m thinking that the thing Labour said couldn’t possibly be done is being done and the evidence is right in front of us in black and white.”

The Liberal Democrats issued a press release in August calling on TfGM to come up with a travel smartcard by Christmas that would work on buses and trams across Greater Manchester. Initially the response was a “no” but just a week later there was really positive news in a report that nearly everything the Lib Dems had called for was to be delivered.

The report says TfGM is working with Stagecoach, First and Arriva to create a multi-operator ‘Smart on Bus’ smart ticketing solution in Greater Manchester, to launch by the end of 2015.

The report also says that TfGM aims to roll out these cards on Metrolink and Rail, and in the short term is aiming to introduce payment for Metrolink by contactless payment and smartphone app.

“It is just what we have been calling for,” said Iain. “We’d like to see the ‘Smart on Bus’ card rolled out to Metrolink sooner, but are very pleased TfGM have come up with alternatives to make life easier for passengers until the rollout can happen.”

Yet at the TfGM Committee meeting on 11th September, with the report in front of them, Labour members attacked Cllr Roberts for speaking to the media and for calling for a smart card.

“I and my Lib Dem colleagues will always work constructively with TfGM to get the best for Greater Manchester, but if Labour think they can gag us they have another thing coming.” Iain added. “The Liberal Democrats will always put the people of Greater Manchester first.”

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