POLICE are to be asked to investigate claims that the owners of the Trafford Centre tried to get people to vote against the Labour chairman of the passenger transport authority who lost his seat in last month’s local elections at Irlam.

Former GMPTA chairman Roger Jones said he would be calling in police on the advice of the government’s Electoral Commission.

Before the election, the authority referred the behaviour of congestion charge opponents Peel Holdings to the Commission, claiming that the giant property company targeted Mr Jones who was one of the leaders of a bid to bring road pricing to the area and failed to win re-election in Salford’s Irlam ward.

The PTA was told of claims by a Salford community newspaper, the Salford Star, that it had a tape of Peel’s property director Mike Butterworth telling Mr Jones’ political opponents that Peel would release a telephone survey of 300 voters by Manchester market research firm, Aspect, which showed that 60 per cent of people who voted for him at the last election would vote against him if congestion charging was introduced.

Mr Jones, who has represented the ward for 25 years, was one of the leaders of a bid by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities for £1.2bn from the government’s Transport Innovation Fund and permission to borrow a further £1.8bn against congestion charge proceeds.

He said: “I am limited by law to how much I can spend and it is very unfair if you have big business spending thousands more to influence the result.”

The Electoral Commission told TransportMatters that third parties are allowed to campaign against candidates but are only allowed to spend £50 plus half a penny for each voter in a ward. In Irlam, that would amount to just £86.34p.

A spokesman said: "We have no powers relating to thisunder the Representation of the People Act and they are matters for the police."

The free quarterly newspaper quotes Mr Butterworth as saying at the meeting: “It’s almost inconceivable that with a bit of the right sort of publicity he can’t be turfed out.”

Peel managing director Andrew Simpson described Mr Butterworth’s comments as “unfortunate” but said: “We strongly refute the allegation that Peel Holdings seeks to influence any part of the electoral process. We do not make donations to, fund or campaign on behalf of any political party.

“In the event of any enquiry by the Electoral Commission we will work closely and openly with the commission at all times.  We are now carrying out a full and thorough review into if, when and how remarks reported in a Salford newspaper were made.

“Our opposition to current proposals for Congestion Charging for Greater Manchester is a matter of public record. We believe this is a tremendously serious issue for the city region and that current AGMA TIF bid should be discussed openly by the region’s business and wider community.”

Mr Jones was beaten into third place, polling just 650 votes against the Conservatives 832 and 1152 for the winner, Rick Houlton from the Community Action Party – which has a big power base in neighbouring Wigan.

ButPeter Franzen, who leads the party and lost his own seat in Wigan said: “We are against congestion charging and I have met with Peel but I do not recognise that as any meeting I attended. Peel offered us no help at all, they just wanted to know where we stood.

“But I do know that a Labour Party call centre in Warrington is ringing up voters in my ward in Warrington asking them how they will vote.”

Stephen Kingston, editor of the quarterly Salford Star, declined to say where he had got the tape of the meeting or even who had been present. “I need to protect my contacts,” he said.

Mr Jones said today: “I accepted defeat gracefully but I will certainly be contacting the police – though it makes me wonder what the point of the Electoral Commission is.

“In their enthusiasm, I believe Peel have crossed the line.”

Property giant in 'public opionion' wrangle with C-charge champ

Councillor Roger Jones with Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly

EXCLUSIVE by Alan Salter                                                           10/03/2008

AN AGENCY hired by Trafford Centre owners and congestion charge opponents Peel Holdings has been ringing voters in the ward of Salford councillor and transport authority chairman Roger Jones who is standing for re-election in May.

 Peel insists that it was simply polling public opinion but the calls have angered Councillor Jones who is one of the leaders of the bid to government for Transport Innovation Fund money in return for introducing road pricing.

He told TransportMatters: “I am saddened and alarmed to find such an underhand activity is taking place in my ward. I object strongly to the people of Irlam being approached in this way in order to influence how they vote.

“None of the local political parties could afford to employ such a PR company to do this work.”

Salford council leader Councillor John Merry has written to Peel managing director Andrew Simpson demanding an explanation. And some of Councillor Jones’ constituents also object to being approached.

Tom Kean, of Peregrine Drive , Irlam, even hung up on the caller. He is a member of the Labour Party and the brother of a fellow Irlam councillor Joe Kean. He said: “They claimed to be some sort of marketing company. They asked me if I knew Roger Jones and if I knew he was up for congestion charging.

“I thought that was a bit naughty so I hung up. They rang a second time and I listened to them this time. They didn’t actually say I shouldn’t vote for him but it was all very negative.

“I’m pretty sure that if they had done this after the nominations had been declared, they could have been trouble with the electoral commission.”

Councillor Jones added: “Until now I have always had the greatest respect for Peel’s Chairman, John Whittaker. I am truly disappointed if his company is undermining the democratic process and trying to influence voters in the local elections in such an underhand manner.

“If Peel Holdings are trying to get rid of me as a local Councillor (and also a member of GMPTA and of Salford’s Planning Committee) I think they should have the courage of their convictions and be upfront and honest about what they are doing.

“I can only assume that I am being targeted because of my position as Chairman of GMPTA – a position I have proudly held since 2001.

“However, I am a long standing representative of the people of Irlam and I work extremely hard on their behalf. My first priority is to these local people and my strong commitment to continue to do my very best for them.”

Peel Holdings and several other high profile businesses have formed the Greater Manchester Momentum Group to oppose the congestion charge plans.

Peel managing director Andrew Simpson is chairman of the group and told the M.E.N that it funded “an independent market research company to carry out polling into public opinion on the TIF bid” in the constituencies of Ruth Kelly, Beverley Hughes and Hazel Blears as well as the ward of Councillor Jones.

He said: “GMMG and Peel Holdings are non-political organisations. We have shared our manifesto and aims with local government and the wider community. The polling simply enabled us to understand the feelings of constituents of high profile decision-makers in the region. Three hundred randomly selected householders were polled in each area.

“We have not yet published polling data but simply urge AGMA and its members to ensure they fully consult and educate the business and wider community about every aspect of the TIF bid and what it may mean for them.

“We would also like to encourage debate about how we achieve a long term transport strategy that supports the long-term growth and success of the region.”

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