Labour should Stop Post Office Closures says Lib Dem (Andrew Simpson)

Labour should Stop Post Office Closures says Lib Dem

November 18, 2007 6:00 PM

Cllr Brian Markham & Cllr Andrew Simpson outside Boothville Post Office Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North, Andrew Simpson, has condemned the announcement that 7 post offices are to close in Northampton and called on the Government to stop the closure programme.

"Since 1999 13 Post Offices have closed in Northampton now we have another 7 announced - our town's post office network is gradually being whittled away" said Andrew.

"Once gone it will be difficult to bring these Post Offices back, the Government should halt the closure plan and instead take a look at new proposals to support our town's Post Office network".

"Under the last Conservative Government 3,500 Post Offices closed and since Labour came to power another 4,000, this latest announcement is a bitter blow to a service that was once the envy of the world"

"The Post Office network provides a unique service to the public but the Labour Government has undermined it by taking services away and failing to invest in alternatives."

Andrew also criticised Northampton North's Labour MP Sally Keeble for 'jumping on the bandwagon' over this issue.

"Sally Keeble MP was Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in 2002 which was responsible for the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit which funded Government plans to help Post Offices in deprived urban areas.

Yet further closures took place and she failed to persuade her Government to stop the previous closures in Kings Heath, St David and Kingsthorpe.

Now she has jumped on the bandwagon to stop these closures despite the fact that it is her Labour Government that is causing this to happen".