AT a time when Tony Blair is trying a new openness with American presidential-style press conferences, the leader of Hyndburn Council, Ian Ormerod, is about to scrap leader's questions at full council meetings.

There may be two reasons for this change in policy -- either Councillor Ormerod is trying to stifle democratic debate or he is not really up to the job.

JOHN FARRER, Mallard Place, Oswaldtwistle.