Government Post Office Announcement Condemned

12.00.00am GMT Thu 14th Dec 2006

The Liberal Democrats today condemned the Government's announcement of the planned closure of around 2,500 post offices, largely in rural areas, as unfortunate and wholly avoidable.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Scottish Secretary, Jo Swinson MP said:

"Today's announcement comes as sad, yet not unexpected, news.

"It is despicable that the Government has systematically removed business from the Post Office Network over recent years, and is now blaming the consequent losses for the closure of thousands of post offices.

"The Liberal Democrats would fund expansion in the Post Office Network from the sale of shares in Royal Mail, and would set post offices free from the stifling regulation that prevents them from exploiting new business opportunities."

Commenting further, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP, Danny Alexander said:

"It has been clear for some time that the Government was planning on announcing the closure of a number of post offices.

"Since this Government has already forced 2,500 urban post offices to close, it is clear that rural areas will bear the brunt of this round of closures.

"Alistair Darling didn't dare to mention the influence Gordon Brown has had on this decision, but as long as the Government retains full ownership of Royal Mail, and post offices are denied the freedom to deal with other postal providers, the Chancellor should be forced to account for his role in this decision."

MP for Gordon, Malcolm Bruce, added:

"The Government is bailing out a ship that ministers have holed below the waterline.

"Instead of decimating the network, they should be looking for new opportunities for business and services that can sustain post offices to serve the maximum number of communities.

"Large scale closures will mean thousands of people will be cut off from the Post Office Network, and subjected to inconvenience and hardship simply because the Government didn't have the wit to plan for a sustainable network."