Labour hypocrisy over post office closures exposed

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Oct 2008

In a shameful attempt to shift the blame for Post Office closures Labour councillor Ian Murray has submitted a formal question to City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jenny Dawe, asking her to explain what steps the Liberal Democrats have taken to save Warrender Park Road Post Office.

Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Pringle and Westminster Spokesman Fred Mackintosh have been at the forefront of efforts to save Warrender Park Road, having worked with the local Community Council to organise a massive campaign against the Westminster Government-sanctioned closure. Hundreds of local people attended a public meeting opposing the closure organised by Mike Pringle MSP, while the Liberal Democrats' petition against the closure has attracted over 3000 signatures.

In addition, the Liberal Democrats delivered thousands of leaflets and letters in Marchmont urging local residents to submit responses to the public consultation into the proposed closure.

Mike Pringle said: "This council question is a transparent attempt by Labour to shift the blame for Post Office closures from the Westminster Government."

"Every Labour Westminster MP in Edinburgh voted for these closures, so I think it's pretty obvious where the buck stops. And as if that wasn't enough, in September Labour's councillors refused to support a motion calling for a secure future for Edinburgh's threatened Post Offices, instead choosing just to "note" the closures!"

"Labour's voting record shows that they simply do not care about local residents who rely on Warrender Park Road."

Fred Mackintosh said: "I'm really proud of all that the campaign against these closure plans has achieved so far. It has been a real community effort with everyone, young and old, getting behind Warrender Park Road."

"Even the Evening News has acknowledged that the Marchmont campaign has "mounted the biggest opposition" in the city against the plans to close their local post office."

"I just hope that when the result is announced on Tuesday it reflects the depth of feeling in Marchmont against these closure plans."