COUNCILLOR David Smith (Letters, April 11) defends the cabinet system shutting out democracy because, firstly, the public rarely attends council debates and, secondly, because it has been ordered by the present Labour government.

He did not explain that Labour have no mandate for the cabinet system. It was not part of their election manifesto, nor that there has never been any public discussion or desire to remove the option of the present system.

Furthermore, he fails to justify the narrow interpretation of the Bill currently going through parliament leading to an all-Labour cabinet, and a small executive committee with some powers of inquiry, but with a gagging Labour chairman.

Liberal Democrat candidates are campaigning for a rethink of the policy arrived at, with precise plans to uphold democracy, enabling elected councillors to have a role and able to act for the benefit of the area and communities they serve.

If the cabinet system goes ahead unaltered, there will be no debate of issues before decisions are made. Local concerns will not be addressed. There will be little supervision of finance and the budget.

And the councillors -- let alone, everyone else -- will not be able to follow through problems that arise.

EDMUND CRITCHLEY (Liberal Democrat candidate, Mill Hill Ward), Merlin Road, Blackburn.