TORY chickens have come north to roost in Pendle, according to the area's Liberal Democrat candidate.

Tony Greaves and his Labour rival Gordon Prentice have both accused Tory candidate John Midgley of snubbing the people of West Craven by pulling out of a planned hustings meeting which was being organised by the area's Council of Churches.

But Mr Midgley defended his decision, saying the proposed meeting was to be held the day after a similar "traditional" event in the centre of the constituency in Colne. He said he was relishing the opportunity of debating the "real issues" during the Colne debate.

Mr Greaves said it appeared Mr Midgley was not prepared to meet the other candidates in debate more than once during the general election campaign. Referring to the national Tory campaign to have a chicken follow Tony Blair around the country, drawing attention to his refusal to have a head-to-head debate on TV with the Prime Minister, Mr Greaves said: "Now it seems the chickens have come north to roost in Pendle."

He added: "It is a silly snub because it denies people in Barnoldswick the chance to see and question all the candidates together on the hustings."

Mr Prentice said he was deeply disappointed at Mr Midgley's decision. "I am prepared to share any platform, anytime, anywhere with the other three candidates," he added. "Why won't the Conservative do the same?"

But Mr Midgley defended his decision. "As I understand it at the last general election the Barnoldswick Council of Churches joined the Colne churches for the centrepiece debate of the constituency. I'm merely sticking by tradition.

"The reality is that the night before this proposed meeting in Barnoldswick we have the main and traditional debate among all the candidates at Colne Municipal Hall, which is in the centre of the constituency. I'm taking part in that debate and looking forward to debating the real issues.

"Throughout this campaign I will be holding house meetings across the constituency."

Mr Midgley, Mr Greaves, Mr Prentice and Damian Hockney, the Referendum Party candidate, are all to take part in the Colne debate on April 17.

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