Labour MP challenged to back Lib Dem plans to save Post Offices
May 29, 2007 6:29 PM
Darley Abbey Post Office was one of 16 Derby Post Offices closed last time Labour's axe fell on our Post Offices
Liberal Democrats in Derby are challenging Bob Laxton, Labour MP for Derby North, to come out against his party's plans to close down at least 2500 Post Offices and back Liberal Democrat plans to invest in the network of Post Offices.
The call was sparked by the Government announcement on Thursday 17th May that Labour ministers will press ahead with the closure of at least 2,500 Post Offices. 16 Post Offices in Derby were closed just a few years ago.
Liberal Democrats say their plans for the Post Office and Royal Mail could see branches saved from the axe and new services provided from them.
"The Government has been stripping away services from the Post Office network," said Cllr Lucy Care Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Derby North. "Branch closures are happening because of Labour's decisions to withdraw government business and with it the revenue it brought.
"Last year the Liberal Democrats agreed a number of radical policies to protect and improve the Post Office network. We would keep Post Office Ltd in the public sector but split it away from Royal Mail. We would then raise £2 billion from the sale of a minority of shares in Royal Mail and invest this money in the Post Office network.
"This will mean new equipment and new services. We will free the Post Office from Royal Mail controls that prevent branches doing business for other parcel delivery companies. The investment will also enable Post Office branches to be the shop front for local government.
"We want staff working for Royal Mail to be given a quarter of the shares in the company, allowing them to share in its success and to be partners in it, similar to the way staff are partners in the John Lewis Partnership.
"It is now clear that the Blair/Brown government are washing their hands of the Post Office network. Their approach has been a combination of neglect and death by a thousand cuts.
"We are calling on Bob Laxton, the Labour MP for Derby North to back our plans for investment in Post Offices or to explain to his constituents why his Government is so keen to close down so much of the branch network."
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