Andy Burnham blasts ‘frankly disgraceful’ claims about his spouse

Andy Burnham has blasted “frankly disgraceful” claims made about his spouse by campaigners in opposition to a controversial new site visitors administration scheme.

In a prolonged private assertion issued on Friday the Mayor of Larger Manchester mentioned folks against the Larger Manchester Clear Air Zone (CAZ) had made “critical allegations”.

“Among the claims which were made about my spouse are frankly disgraceful,” he mentioned.

“An instance of one of many worst might be seen beneath. I’ve set out the info and ask that this now stops.”

Mr Burnham then included {a photograph} of roadside signal which reads: “Re assume the clear air zone. Get it scrapped. Andy Burnham is a nonce and his spouse is shagging the French”.

It additionally falsely claims that the mayor’s spouse owns shares in an unspecified firm in some way linked to the clear air zone coverage.

In his assertion, Mr Burnham mentioned he needed to “reset” the customarily fraught debate over the coverage, which is able to impose a day by day cost on extra polluting industrial automobiles that enter Manchester to enhance town’s air high quality.

Burnham mentioned of the allegations: “For the avoidance of any doubt, listed here are the info. Marie-France [his wife] is employed by Heavenly, a small advertising and model company. She works with numerous their shoppers, together with Iduna Infrastructure Restricted.

“Iduna owns Amey MAP Providers Restricted, which has a contract with TfGM to function the general public EV community beneath the model title Be.EV. Marie-France has no direct monetary relationship with Iduna. She doesn’t personal any shares in them and doesn’t obtain any bonus nor incentive funds from them.

“Though it is a minor personal curiosity in relation to EV charging – and never straight associated to the CAZ – I nonetheless selected to declare it, and take away myself from any decision-making, in order that there might be no notion of a battle of curiosity nor any suggestion of privileged data being misused.

“Extra broadly, we don’t personal any shares in any firm and obtain no earnings aside from our salaries.”

The Mayor additionally criticised those that introduced the clear air zone as his creation. He mentioned this narrative “has been primarily promoted by the Conservative Get together, its MPs and councillors, as a result of it fits their political functions to distract folks from their Authorities’s main position on this coverage”.

The implementation of the zone, which doesn’t cowl personal automobiles, was paused earlier this month following anger from motorists who must pay the brand new prices.

The scheme was as a result of start in Might this yr. It could cost non-compliant taxis and personal rent automobiles £7.50 a day, mild items automobiles similar to vans £10 a day, and coaches, buses, and HGVs £60 a day. These classes would solely should pay the cost if they don’t meet emissions requirements.