The full council walked out of a meeting at the town hall and reconvened at St Peter's Square tram stop to demand the resignation or sacking of Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.
Councillors held placards spelling out Move Over Darling and demanding that the extension is completed.
Coun Richard Leese, leader of Manchester city council told his fellow councillors: "We are not going to accept this, we are saying don't make your statement in the House of Commons come to Manchester, go to Wythenshawe, go to Oldham and go to Rochdale. Our campaign will continue until the government delivers."
The council plans to hold a public inquiry chaired by an independent expert to make the case for Metrolink.
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Ian, Lichfield (ex Mossley) (21/07/2004 at 17:11)
But the cost of metrolink has trebled so you can see why the decision has been made. Questions must be asked about why the cost rose so dramatically.
If B#200m has already been spent on preparing the routes, this should not be wasted. As well as campaigning for this decision to be reversed, local councils and GMPTE should investigate other cheaper options such as guided busways. People have lost their homes to make way for metrolink - this should not be in vain.