Voters’ anger will cost seats

Labour not only dominates local authorities in Fife and the Lothians, but holds most of the Scottish Parliament seats across the region as well.

However, the party’s grip in all of these areas could be threatened by the congestion-charging controversy.

Edinburgh City Council is likely to submit draft plans for approval by early autumn and these are almost certain to be approved by the Scottish Executive by the end of the year - just four months before every council and Scottish Parliament seat is up for re-election.

Edinburgh councillors know the move is politically sensitive, but insisted that should not, and would not, stand in the council’s way. Some of their colleagues in Fife, Midlothian, East and West Lothian will share the assessment of the scheme, acutely aware they must share the risks without any of the potential benefits.

At the very least, Edinburgh councillors can argue congestion charging will benefit voters in Edinburgh - safer streets, less pollution and quicker journeys. For those in outlying areas, the benefits are not so clear - and Labour fears a backlash.

Many Labour politicians are looking with growing unease at the opposition which has surfaced against road pricing.

The SNP has already started a leaflet campaign. More than 4,000 were handed out this week in Fife and the Nationalists intend to make city-centre charging a key issue from now until next May’s elections.

Kenny MacAskill, the party’s transport spokesman, said: "This is a cack-handed proposal. The public transport infrastructure is not in place to offer an alternative and it will undermine the city centre."

The Tories used opposition to attack congestion charging as a key part of their platform for last year’s general election and are bound to take an even stronger line next year. A party spokesman said: "This is nothing to do with congestion, it’s just about raising revenue."

Both main opposition parties have identified congestion charging as a key Labour weakness which they will exploit.

Scottish Executive ministers have come under an increasing amount of pressure privately from Labour councillors anxious to put off the introduction of congestion charging in Edinburgh to a later date - or at least until after next year’s elections.

But the timetable has already been agreed and there appears to be every chance that congestion charging will be approved, in principle at least, by the end of the year.