GOVT ACCUSED OF STICKING DAGGER INTO HEART OF RURAL PO NETWORK

Angus MP, Mike Weir has accused Government ministers of misleading the country after they announced that it was always known that the Post Office card account would end in 2010.  Mr Weir also expressed his fears that the ending of the card account could lead to the rural post office network collapsing with many rural communities without post office services for miles.

Mr Weir who has long campaigned against the Government’s attempts to rundown the centuries old Royal Mail and Post Office services said:

“This is the Government once again sticking a dagger into the heart of the rural post office network.

“When the previous Minister announced to the House of Commons the introduction of the Post Office card account this was after a huge political outcry to the Government’s insistence on switching direct payments from the post office to bank accounts.

“At no point did the Government state that the Post Office card account was a temporary scheme and now the leader of the House has the audacity to state to the Commons that this was always the case.   Clearly this is an attempt to mislead everyone on the Government’s true intensions.

“This is appalling hypocrisy at the highest level and could lead to the complete collapse of the rural post office network.

“Many rural areas including large villages do not have access to a bank so the rural Post Office is their only means of accessing their money.  It is disgraceful that the Government now plan to strip holders of their card accounts without their consent.

“However, the Government still has plenty of time to change its mind and they have four years to work in ensuring that the millions of customers can continue to use their Post Office card account.”