YOUR report (LET, April 1) revealed the local MPs who back Blackburn's ruling Labour group in their dogmatic acceleration of the diminution of democracy at the town hall -- Jack Straw and Janet Anderson.

But Pendle's Gordon Prentice has reservations, because of concerns about cabinet government replacing hitherto open committee meetings and the need for more public access to instigation of policy, through elected representatives and the press -- issues which separate New Labour from the old version.

Democracy is vulnerable and needs protection, if it is not to be undermined by centralist stratagems. The Government says the major change is for 'modernisation,' which they define as "traditional values in a modern setting."

But is it modern to impose an undemocratic oligarchy upon local government, with control from the centre, instead of from the grass roots?

Blackburn Council starts from the premise that no-one should have the temerity to question the ruling Labour group. But no-one has any idea what the new cabinet system will really produce, like devolution and changes to the House of Lords, where nothing has been thought through.

This is why local Conservatives wanted to await results of the plethora of amendments that are expected to be made to the Government's Draft Bill for Local Government, during its passage through both Houses of Parliament -- instead of rushing headlong into something before it is needed and might possibly never be. The main defensive argument, in support of the new system, postulated by Labour MPs and their political pundits, was that "it will be no different from the cabinet government, nationally," but that fails to compare like with like.

At Westminster, there are provisions for Early Day Motions, Opposition Days, Select Committees, more exposure to the media and, above all, frequent opportunities for debate in both Houses of Parliament -- unlike in Blackburn, where meaningful debate is to be restricted to twice yearly!

The only justification for modernisation is that it must offer something better. Yet, reports from authorities which have started the kind of experiment decreed by Blackburn (many of whom are Labour-controlled) provide a picture of disillusionment and disarray.

So, in the interests of the public and good governance there can be no valid reasons for precipitous action -- other than consolidation of power.

COUN J H HIRST (Beardwood with Lammack Ward), Blackburn Conservative Association, Preston New Road, Blackburn.