George Galloway has dropped further hints that he’s planning an audacious bid to be London Mayor, a fellow Bradford MP has alleged.

The Respect MP for Bradford West has tabled a parliamentary motion, attacking what he called a “scam to defraud drivers” paying the capital’s congestion charge.

And he has written to fellow MPs urging them to sign the motion, saying: “I am urging the Mayor of London and the police to act to protect the public.”

It comes after Mr Galloway said he is seriously considering standing to become Mayor of London and might not fight to retain his Bradford seat in the 2015 general election.

He has formed a committee of his party members and “political number crunchers” to explore being a candidate when London next goes to the polls, in 2016.

Bradford East MP David Ward seized on the motion as fresh evidence that Mr Galloway was preparing to quit the city, after only one term as an MP.

The Liberal Democrat said: “I'm surprised he’s got time for dealing with scams in London as most MPs are busy in their own areas.

"I can only assume this is more about him being a candidate for London Mayor than wanting to be a hard-working constituency MP for Bradford.”

The motion – which appears on the Commons order paper, but is not debated – raises the alarm over a website that charges inflated prices to enter the congestion zone.

But Mr Galloway laughed off Mr Ward’s jibe. A spokesman said: “This is a response to the fact that this website exists to defraud motorists.

“George is a campaigner against injustice wherever he sees it and early day motions are not just about Bradford matters, or international matters. George tabled a motion about Bill Shankly – but that doesn’t mean he is going to run to be Mayor of Liverpool.”

Mr Galloway is not expected to make a decision about the London job until much closer to the time, telling questioners to “wait and see”.

But the prospect has triggered a crisis in the Respect party at Bradford Council, where all five councillors have resigned en masse.

They acted in protest at the suspension of two of their members – Ishtiaq Ahmed and Mohammad Shabbir – who publicly criticised Mr Galloway’s plans. The five say they will be continuing as ward councillors, but as independents.