As people across Greater Manchester take part in a postal ballot on the controversial scheme, Mr Levitt appeared on Granada's late night political talk show, Party People.

He said: "This is a gift horse into whose mouth you should not be looking.
"There's £3 billion pounds of investment into public transport which I think will benefit the economy, the environment and the whole area, not just Manchester itself.

"I want to see, and I believe I will get out of this, park and ride at Newtown, a new station for Gamesley, additional coaches on the local services on all three lines (in High Peak), and further trains coming up from Hazel Grove to New Mills."

Under the scheme, motorists would pay up to £5 a day on weekdays to drive into and out of Manchester city centre.

But when asked by the programme's host Rob McLoughlin whether he thought it was fair for High Peak residents to contribute by paying the charge, he replied: "Some of them will have to pay the charge, there will be exemptions.

"Employers can help this along to move their daily routine so as to avoid the congestion charge."

Mr Levitt also shrugged off claims that the London scheme didn't work, and that congestion in the capital was back to pre-congestion charge levels.

"There are a lot more buses in London, there is freer movement of traffic than there used to be and pollution levels are down," added the MP.

"The Manchester scheme is better than the London scheme in many ways.

"Firstly because all the investment is going to be upfront, the investment will all be in place and the new services provided before the congestion charge comes in.

"Secondly because it's a tidal and partial flow, you can avoid paying the congestion charge by travelling at different times."

Mr Levitt appeared on the programme alongside Tony Lloyd, Labour MP for Manchester Central; Mark Hunter, Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle, and Sir Nicholas Winterton, Conservative MP for Macclesfield.