Liberal Democrat raises 'decimation' of Edinburgh Post Office network at Prime Minister's Questions

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Jul 2008

Edinburgh Liberal Democrat MP John Barrett today slammed both Labour and the Conservatives for decimating Edinburgh's post office network.

Speaking during Prime Ministers questions, Mr Barrett hit out at successive governments closures across the city leaving many communities without a local or accessible post office.

Edinburgh is currently bracing itself for the next round of post office closures, with the list of those under threat set to be published on 19th August. Mr Barrett is running a campaign to save post offices across West Edinburgh.

Speaking at Prime Ministers Questions, John Barrett said:

"Why have this Labour Government chosen to continue the work of the previous Conservative Government this summer, with their plans to decimate the post office network in the city of Edinburgh?"

Speaking following the exchange, Mr Barrett added:

"Minister claim that the post office network is not viable and yet it is the Government themselves who have put post offices in this difficult position.

"Instead of supporting them they have continued to strip away business from them - such as the TV licence - and what is more they are now exploiting these problems to justify the closures.

"Alistair Darling can be certain that any proposed closures that in my own constituency will be vigorously opposed by myself along with local community groups and organisations."