Bridget speaks out on Post Office closures

7.05.00pm GMT Tue 13th Mar 2007

Local campaigner Bridget Fox has spoken out against the Labour government's Post Office closures that are hitting Islington residents hard.

Speaking to supporters at a recent meeting, Bridget said

"Islington's Post Offices aren't safe under Labour. With my Liberal Democrat colleagues I've been fighting their damaging cuts and fighting to save Islington's Post Offices; collecting thousands of signatures protesting at the closure of branches at Westbourne Road, Copenhagen Street, Amwell Street and St Peter's Street.

"We gave evidence to Islington's scrutiny into the impact of Post Office closures and summoned Post Office managers to the Town Hall so they could hear the case for Islington.

"Since then we've taken the campaign beyond the borough boundaries, meeting with national consumer group PostWatch to raise concerns about the Post Office's sham consultation process and petitioning Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt to change their damaging policies on Post Office closures.

"Labour just don't care. Tony Blair used to live just yards from the Copenhagen Street Post Office. Then he presided over its closure. He has left Islington and Islington residents behind. In January 2004, the Labour government, including local MP Chris Smith MP, backed the closure programme.

"This January his successor, Emily Thornberry MP, voted for more Post Office closures saying she 'supports the Government's approach of allowing Royal Mail the freedom to respond to future commercial challenges and opportunities, and in particular enabling Post Office Limited to determine the future shape of the network' which in the real world means closing more post office branches.

"Post Offices are a lifeline to pensioners, busy mums, local small businesses and provide an 'anchor' to local shopping parades. So don't believe Labour when they claim to support local shops & services - when it comes to their votes, actions speak louder than words."