TO MANY people, the long-running “is it on/is it off” debate over Merseytram is starting to resemble Monty Python’s Dead Parrot sketch, with one party insisting it has “ceased to be”, while the other makes increasingly ludicrous claims to persuade us that it has not. But who’s laughing?

Only a few days ago, we argued that Merseytravel should forget the idea and move on. This was based on a leaked letter from transport minister Sadiq Khan, who appeared to put the final nail in the coffin of this much-troubled project by saying that Merseyside should drop its plans and start looking for alternatives.

But now this has proved to be yet another false ending, because two of the region’s most senior politicians have joined forces to call on the whole of Merseyside to unite behind the scheme.

Liverpool’s Labour group leader, Joe Anderson, and the leader of Knowsley council, Ron Round, have pledged to “go the extra mile” in rescuing Merseytram.

They argue that, if local political leaders explored viable funding alternatives and gave the project “clear and positive backing”, the Government would be forced to think again.

They say that Merseyside – a pioneer in the field of railway travel with the world-famous Rainhill trials – should not be allowed to lag behind in benefiting from an integrated light rail system.

It will now be up to the region’s other politicians to rise to the challenge when the Liverpool City Region Cabinet meets next month to consider the future of Merseytram.

If they put the bickering of the past behind them and finally get behind the scheme – on which £70m has already been spent without a track being laid – we would be happy to support it.