Andy Burnham laughs off claim he is 'waffling' during radio phone-in rant against huge speeding fine

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Andy Burnham has hit out at a massive fine he received for speeding on a motorway. The mayor of Greater Manchester was hit with a bill of almost £2,000 in March after he was caught doing 78mph on a section of motorway where the limit had been reduced to 40 on July 7 last year.

He said at the time he became distracted when he realised the junction at which he usually exits the M62 had been closed and he had no idea the 'smart motorway' had reduced the limit to 40mph as he made his way home to Golborne in Wigan.

Today he again accepted he was 'going too fast' but admitted he had been 'aggrieved' by the size of the fine and the fact his licence had been endorsed with six rather than three penalty points, blaming the smart motorway system for 'trapping a lot of people unfairly' and saying: "I do think we need to take a look at these smart motorways." READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community Court records show Mr Burnham's case was dealt with at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on March 14.

Appearing under his full name Andrew Murray Burnham, justices fined him £1,353 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £541.