TORIES have hit out at Bury Council over plans for an awareness-raising campaign on the European constitution.

Voters in the borough will be told more about proposed changes to the EU ahead of any referendum.

Members decided on the move at a meeting of the full council last Wednesday (28 July) with a motion that called for "objective evidence" to be supplied to allow for "rational debate".

However, Tory councillors voted against, fearing that the information would be biased in favour of a "Yes" vote.

They added that the Europe debate was being discussed as a distraction from more pressing local matters.

Tories wanted an amendment, describing the Government's decision to hold a referendum as a "U-turn", without reference to a public debate.

Group leader Roy Walker said: "If the council are going to the public in a referendum then there has got to be balance.

"I haven't the confidence that you are going to present the European argument in terms of both pros and cons."

Coun Walker said he would support a public information campaign if all parties could be involved in its content.

But he added that councillors should focus their attention on other matters, such as the closure of Fairfield General Hospital's special care baby unit.

Coun Walker said: "All of this has been added to deflect us from things of importance in Bury.

"We are gagged to 20 minutes for Bury matters."

Speaking in favour of the motion, Labour councillor Derek Boden said: "One of the spin-offs of this debate has been to illustrate to people in this chamber why the Tory party is in such a mess.

"The only thing that unites them is this world weary cynicism. I think that what this illustrates is that the opposition party don't value rational debate."