COUNCILLOR E Critchley (Letter, November 22) rightly dubbed Labour's new constitution for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council a sham.

Overtly, it claims to offer more open government and enhanced democracy, but the seeds of oligarchy are exposed.

Pluralism is endangered under the banner of 'modernisation,' whereby, opposition to the ruling party is diminished by the avoidance or adversarial political contest and Labour even calls for 'consensus' at the town hall.

The new constitution emanates from New Labour's ambition to control local government from the centre and the signs are that county councils in England and Wales will disappear, in favour of regional development agencies -- de facto extensions of national government.

The new structures for the council are claimed to give more power to the people and a louder voice for councillors, but these, supported by the new cabinet system, actually reduce the facilities for debate that even existed under the previous committee system, especially for 'back-benchers,' who also have a duty to represent the electorate.

Labour believes the introduction of 'scrutiny committees' hold executives to account, but much depends upon what is to be scrutinised.

In Blackburn, the subjects are pre-determined by cross-party members -- with Labour majorities, although consensus is requested. Measuring how things are done is fine, But greater effect can be achieved by questioning 'why things are done?'

Realistic scrutiny could be better achieved by scrutiny committees that comprise separate political groups -- but this would invite opposition to the ruling party, which is precisely what Labour doesn't want.

This was shown on November 15, when Labour, with a tiny majority, out-voted the opposition on my motion to resolve in committee for debating the new constitution.

This would have allowed more scope for discussion but, ungraciously, Labour rejected the opportunity to make even a token democratic gesture at such a milestone in the history of the borough.

COUN J H Hirst (Beardwood with Lammack Ward), Blackburn Conservative Association.