Post Office vote sends mixed messages
WARRINGTON'S Labour MPs have been accused of sending out mixed messages about the controversial post office closures in the town.
Tory and Lib Dem campaigners have questioned why Helen Jones and Helen Southworth campaigned to keep local branches open, yet have voted against calls in Parliament to halt the national closure programme.
"Both of our MPs have let down people in Warrington by voting to allow the closures to continue," said Jo Crotty, the Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Warrington South.
"This was an opportunity for them to make a stand on behalf of residents."
"Both claimed to be campaigning to stop the closures but when given the opportunity they vote with the Government to continue shutting branches across the country."
And David Mowat, the Conservative parliamentary spokesman for Warrington South, said: "Campaigning to save local branches then voting against a motion to keep them open is cynical and self-serving."
He added:"We are not saying that every single one in the country should be kept open but the Government has had a defeatist attitude and failed to understand that post offices are part of the community."
A Tory motion to suspend proposals to close 2,500 branches across the country, while exploring ways to make more money was defeated by 20 votes in the House of Commons last Wednesday night.
A Government motion vowing to keep subsidising the network by £150m a year, taking its investment by 2011 to £1.7bn, won with a majority of 39 after 21 Labour MPs rebelled.
Mrs Jones, whose Warrington North constituency is seeing branches in Glazebury, Padgate and Winwick closed, accused the Tories of failing to put their money where their mouth is.
"It's no use voting for the Conservative's motion that no post offices should close because they don't committ to any funding," she said.
"This Government has committed millions to keep them open. Under the last Government no money was put in.
"It's being disingenuous if you don't commit the funding."
Mrs Jones said she had campaigned because she believes that Post Office UK, which runs the network, has made the wrong decision to close the three.
Mrs Southworth, whose Warrington South constituency is seeing post offices closed in Lymm, Orford Lane and Sankey Green, was unavailable for comment as the Guardian went to press.
3:26pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: BJ, Woolston on 4:26pm Wed 26 Mar 08
I think it is Mrs Jones who is being disingenuous by blaming the Tories for not putting money in to the PO 11 years ago. How does she expect us to accept that she thinks that only the three in her constituency should be kept open, whilst voting against a motion to suspend all the closures?
The amount needed to keep post office branches open is probably less than the amount claimed by MPs in expenses.
I had a reply from Mrs Jones concerning her voting against a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty which simply parrots official Labour party policy, and didn't answer my question.
As a life long labour supporter, I am seriously considering my vote at the next general election in view of this MPs inability to answer a straight question, and treat the electorate as adults, rather than lecturing us like 9 year olds.
I think it is Mrs Jones who is being disingenuous by blaming the Tories for not putting money in to the PO 11 years ago. How does she expect us to accept that she thinks that only the three in her constituency should be kept open, whilst voting against a motion to suspend all the closures?
The amount needed to keep post office branches open is probably less than the amount claimed by MPs in expenses.
I had a reply from Mrs Jones concerning her voting against a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty which simply parrots official Labour party policy, and didn't answer my question.
As a life long labour supporter, I am seriously considering my vote at the next general election in view of this MPs inability to answer a straight question, and treat the electorate as adults, rather than lecturing us like 9 year olds.
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