TWO days of public inquiry could turn out to be waste of time and money, says local Euro MP Gary Titley.

The Boundary Commission was discussing possible changes to seats in the European Parliament covering Bury last week.

But, on the second day of the inquiry, the Cabinet announced that they would introduce proportional representation for Euro-elections from 1999.

Mr Titley, MEP for Greater Manchester West, said: "The whole inquiry could have been a waste of time."

And he feared that the move to PR could mean MEPs would lose touch with the people that elected them.

"My experience of proportional representation in Europe has persuaded me that it is not a good idea," he said.

"You tend to get politicians who are loyal only to the party. "The British system at least gives voters a focal point."

The Government will issue their proposals in the autumn, and Mr Titley said he would wait with interest to see what they said.

"It was in the manifesto, and it is party policy," said Mr Titley.

"But I will be interested to see the detailed proposals."

He went on: "They are talking about having votes on a regional basis, and there will probably have to be another Boundary Commission inquiry to decide what the boundaries will be."

The next Euro-elections are scheduled for June,1999.

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