Sheffield Labour MP's vote for Post Office closures

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th Mar 2008

Cllr Scriven (right) and Cllr White (left) campaigning to save Post offices in Nether Edge Ward

Liberal Democrats in Sheffield have accused Sheffield's Labour MP's of failing to support local services after all but one of them voted to support the Government's massive post office closure programme. The Government has ordered that one in five branches be closed. Opposition MPs tried to stop the closure programme on yesterday when a motion was proposed in the House of Commons demanding the Government halt their plans to make 2500 branches shut up shop.

But enough Labour MPs rallied around the Government's closure plans to reject the motion and ensure the closure programme can continue unhindered. Those voting to close post offices included local Labour MP's Clive Betts, Richard Cabourn, Angela Smith and Meg Munn. David Blunkett didn't vote.

Disappointed local Liberal Democrat campaigners are calling on local Labour MP'S to explain why they voted to close post offices.

Sheffield is set to find out in August what local Post Offices are earmarked for closure. Local Liberal Democrats have a record of campaigning to keep local Post Office's open, they are against any future closures. The only local MP to vote against the closures was Lib Dem Nick Clegg MP.

"Local Labour MP's have let down people in Sheffield by voting to allow the closures to continue." said Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council.

"In August the announcement will be made as to which branches here will be put forward for closure. This was an opportunity for local MP's to make a stand on behalf of residents. I am disappointed the local Labour MP's backed the Government rather than local people. The only local MP to vote against closures was our party leader Nick Clegg."

"The loss of post offices will hit communities hard in Sheffield. They are vital assets for many local people and closing them will cause many difficulties for older people and others with mobility problems, in particular."

Voting records can be found here: -

<http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080319/debtext/80319-0022.htm>