Government Must Come Clean On Post Office Closures - Teather

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 28th May 2007

Sarah is running a petition to protect local Post Offices

Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, has asked the Government to publish their secret list of 2,500 Post Offices that ministers have earmarked for closure. A quarter of all the Post Offices in Brent have already been closed under Labour.

The Government have announced plans to axe 2,500 Post Offices across the UK, but have refused to indicate which Post Offices are set for the chop. In a written parliamentary question to Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling, Sarah has demanded that he "publish the full list of 2,500 Post Offices at risk of closure."

In 1999 Brent had 40 Post Offices, compared with just 30 today. Local people have therefore lost a quarter of their Post Offices since Labour came to power. If the trend continues there will be no Post Offices left in Brent by 2028.

Sarah and local councillors were campaigning in Cricklewood this week against Post Office closures.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Post offices are the bedrock of our communities. It is the most vulnerable and underprivileged in our society who use Post Offices the most, and it is essential that we preserve these services.

"In the last seven years we have lost a quarter of our Post Offices in Brent. I am astounded that Labour now plan to close a further 2,500 Post Offices.

"Along with many local people, I have been campaigning against the Government's Post Office closure plans and will now be stepping up the fight.

"It's not acceptable for the Government to hide behind a veil of secrecy. Ministers should immediately publish their list of Post Offices they have earmarked for closure. Local people have a right to know if their Post Office is at risk."

Related Link:

Read about the Lib Dems' plans to save the Post Office.