BURY Euro MP Michael Hindley has been suspended by Labour leaders for refusing to be gagged.

The Strasbourg rebel will not sign a new code of practice which forbids criticism of Government policies.

Mr Hindley represents Lancashire South, which includes Bury, Ramsbottom and Tottington.

This is the first time an MEP has been suspended from the European Parliamentary Labour Party: Mr Hindley is one of four to be disciplined.

The trouble has been sparked by the Government's plan to introduce proportional representation for the 1999 European elections.

The rebels disagree with the way candidates are to be selected. National party bosses will draw up a list, rather than the current system where local constituencies choose their man.

Mr Hindley has been an MEP for 13 years, and was the socialist group's front bench spokesman on trade.

He was last elected to the newly-created Lancashire South seat in 1994 with a majority of more than 41,000.

Simon Murphy, EPLP whip, confirmed the suspension which excludes Mr Hindley from meetings: although he is still expected to take the whip.

Mr Hindley and his fellow rebels want the president of the European Parliament, Jose Maria Gil-Robles, to investigate their complaint that Labour's code breaches the independence granted to MEPs.

But Wayne David, leader of the EPLP, said the MEPs' claims were "absolute nonsense". He said the president had made it clear that the code of practice was a matter purely for the political group, not the Parliament.

Mr Hindley was unavailable for comment this week: he is understood to be returning today from Pakistan.

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