The Greater Manchester ULEZ zone was mandated by the UK government in 2019
It was a legally binding directive from central government (Tories back then) that covered all 10 GM authorities
Pre-Covid a charging model was designed, which would charge non-compliant vehicles
We then had Covid, and the scheme was paused as the economy had changed
There then followed somewhat of a standoff from goverment, as The Mayoral authority needed to get them to drop the legal directive and support the new cleaner air scheme.
The scheme was then redesigned to a clean air scheme, which had delivers electric buses, integrated public transport, a great ANPR network, and the continued electrification of public vehicles.
The RW media would (of course) have you believe it was Burham’s idea in the first place (it wasn’t) and that the money has been pissed up the wall (it’s not). This was a central goverment directive that the Mayor was obliged to enact.