Southend West MP David Amess has launched a stinging attack on a Parliamentary Bill which claims to modernise local government.

And he turned on Southend's own council by branding it a disastrous example of how local authorities will have to run in future.

Conservative Mr Amess was speaking in the House of Commons during the second reading of the Local Government Bill.

Among its wide-ranging proposals are plans to introduce elected mayors and cabinet-style council meetings - an initiative already taken up in Southend.

Mr Amess said: "The Bill will strip the British people and local newspapers of their right to observe how councils make decisions and how individual councillors vote.

"A year ago in Southend, for whatever reason, it was decided to opt for cabinet-style government.

"It has been a total disaster. What has gone on in Southend is a disgrace."

He said: "Although the Southend cabinet meets in public, the decisions are taken at its private briefing with officers."

He accused the Government of trying to stifle debate and added: "The Bill is not about openness and transparency.

"That is an absolute travesty of what has happened in Southend."

The Bill is set to become law in the summer although mayoral elections are set to coincide with the council elections in May 2001.

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