Liberal Democrats condemn Government Post Office closure announcement

1.44.07pm GMT Fri 15th 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."