PUPILS will pay the price after Bury's MPs "chickened out" of getting the borough a better deal.

Council leader John Byrne accused Alistair Burt and David Sumberg of betraying the people in a crucial Commons debate this week.

He was furious that, despite agreeing that Bury was treated unfairly, they still sided with the Government in Monday's vote which decided how much money is dished out to councils.

"It was time for the MPs to put up or shut up, and they didn't put up," said Coun Byrne.

"Our children are paying for people to have holidays in the Savoy," he added, pointing out that the formula gave Tory Westminster far more than Bury.

"The MPs will have to keep that on their conscience."

But Bury North MP Alistair Burt said he had no difficulty in voting with the Government.

"I would like to see changes in the formula, it's been common cause in Bury for some time," he said.

"But any changes will be gradual and worked out in agreement with councils.

"But it is Labour authorities that have told the Government not to proceed with the review we started.

"Also, we have no commitment from Labour that they would make any changes to the formula that would help Bury.

"I am not prepared to vote for a pig in a poke."

While pushing for a better deal, Mr Burt said that the council still had to deal with the reality.

"We have always told them that Labour nationally would not bail them out, but the council turned their face away from it.

"They have mishandled things and misguided the public."

But Coun Byrne added: "There's no point in saying you are against the system yet doing nothing about it. It's all empty words and rhetoric.

"It was perfect opportunity to do right by the people of Bury and they chickened out.

"Weasel words won't put money back into education, only pounds will do."

ZBury South MP David Sumberg spoke out against his Government during the debate.

Mr Sumberg told the Commons he was "sick and tired" of complaining that the funding rules should be changed. "My local authority is losing out massively as a result of the formula," Mr Sumberg told the Commons.

"We have long urged the Department of the Environment to do something because the current position is not fair and cannot continue."

He added: "If the Labour council in Bury is prepared to put aside political prejudice and work to find a solution that will preserve our excellent primary and secondary schools and adult education it will rightly command the respect and admiration of the community. It will also have my total support."

But by voting with the Government, he angered his Labour opponent in the General Election, Ivan Lewis.

"Mr Sumberg's support for local services has been exposed as nothing more than crocodile tears and the worst kind of hypocrisy," said the Sedgley councillor.

"He has betrayed all those children, parents and teachers who had hoped he would represent their interests and force the Government to give a fairer settlement to Bury."

Mr Sumberg defended his decision to vote with his Tory colleagues despite his criticism.

"I"m not prepared to make silly political gestures," he said.

"There would have been some point in trying to defeat the settlement if there was any prospect of more money coming, either from the Government or Labour, but they have made it clear there's no more coming next year."

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