Lib Dems in Hinckley and Bosworth throw down challenge on Post Offices

12.00.00am GMT Sun 16th Nov 2008

Local Liberal Democrats want to see our local Post Offices stay open

Local Liberal Democrat campaigners have slammed Labour MPs for rejecting calls to back Post Office services that help keep branches in business.

In the House of Commons on Monday 10th November Labour MPs, threw out a call for the Government to carry out more services through Post Offices.

"Post Offices are vital to communities in Hinckley and Bosworth" said Michael Mullaney Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Bosworth.

"Labour have a mean-spirited approach to the Post Office network and have gradually stripped branches of much of their business over recent years.

"Labour then went on to claim that the network has to be reduced in size due to this loss of business. Now ministers are putting pressure on pensioners and benefit claimants to have their pensions and benefits paid into bank accounts.

"All this is undermining the Post Office. Residents and Lib Dem Councillors on the Hollycroft estate are still angry that the Post Office chose to close the Clifton Way Post Office. Local Post Offices in Higham on the Hill and Bagworth have also been closed recently. The call made by Liberal Democrats in Parliament was an attempt to stop the damage Labour have done to the network and reverse the decline. Labour however voted to throw out that call. Hinckley and Bosworth needs its Post Offices but we also need a Government that takes into account the needs of local people.

"We have the first of these now, but not the second. My fear is that we will soon have neither."

Liberal Democrats have called for £2 billion of investment in branches, paid for by selling part of the Government's shareholding in Royal Mail.

They also want more Government departments to use Post Offices to provide services, to free branches from restrictions on doing business with other parcel delivery companies and to broaden the range of commercial services available across the counter.

The vote on the Post Office motion can be found at

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081110/debtext/81110-0020.htm