POST OFFICE CONSULTATION SHAM

 

LABOUR DEFER ENGLISH CLOSURES UNTIL AFTER LOCAL ELECTIONS

 

SNP Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, has today (Thursday) described the Post Office closure consultation process as a sham, and called on the UK Government to defer the whole process after it emerged that consultation on closure threatened Post Offices in England and Wales will be put back until after the local elections next year.

 

Commenting on the development, Mr Weir said:

 

“The Labour Government have displayed extraordinary cynicism over the future of the post office network. News that the Gordon Brown’s Government is now set to defer the closure process in England until after the local election, shows what a complete sham this whole exercise is.

 

“This puts a lie to the claim by the Government that the consultation process is being operated by Post Office Ltd and is free from political interference. The UK government can, and do, interfere in the process when it suits them.”

 

“It is clearly unfair that post office’s south of the border have been given a stay of execution, while those in Scotland will be rushed through on a completely inadequate timetable.

 

“This is a double blow given that campaigners in Glasgow have been told that if a post office is saved by a local campaign then another in the area will simply be targeted instead. Ministers must step in and stop this nonsense now.

 

“The whole consultation process, right across the network, should now be suspended. Local communities and authorities must have a fair chance to challenge the proposals over the future of this essential local service.”