UK NEWS

MPS TO KEEP THEIR THREE POST OFFICES

This post office in Lackock is one of the many marked for closure

Friday May 30,2008

By Gabriel Milland, Political Correspondent

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(6)

MPs are set to keep their three private post offices while millions of taxpayers will have to travel miles to find one that is still open.

Labour ministers have approved plans to axe around 2,500 post offices, many serving as a lifeline to the elderly.

However, the three post office counters currently in operation in the Palace of Westminster are set to stay open, the Daily Express can reveal.

Taxpayers – through the Westminster authorities – pick up the rent, heating and lighting costs.

Last night, Jim Latham, whose village post office in Rippingale, Lincs, is currently under threat, said: “They just don’t get it. It’s typical of the privileged mindset MPs have. If all the local post offices close, people in our village will have drive a dozen or so miles to find one that’s open.

“On top of all the expenses they get, it’s just sheer unlistening arrogance by MPs.”

Mr Latham – a spokesman for the national campaign Communities Against Post Office Closures – was particularly angry that the cabinet minister in charge of closures joked about not being competent at using the internet when he mentioned the main House of Commons post office earlier this year.

Revealing that he renewed his car tax there rather than online, Business Secretary John Hutton told MPs that he was “not the greatest internet user”.

Mr Latham said: “It’s all very well for John Hutton to say he can’t be bothered with the internet, but around half of my village don’t have any internet access at all and they won’t be able to go to a post office just yards from his office like he can.”

The Westminster post office has three counters, only one of which – in the central lobby – is open to the public and only after lengthy security searches.

According to guidelines approved last year by Commons speaker Michael Martin, MPs are allowed to barge their way to the front of the queue at the post office and other facilities. The plans for widespread closures have sparked widespread anger, particularly among the elderly who rely on their branch for a range of amenities.

Labour announced the cull in 2006, saying it could not justify the Post Office’s annual £150million subsidy.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said the Westminster offices were operated as Crown establishments, which mean they are owned and operated by the Post Office itself, rather than by individual sub-postmasters or mistresses.

There has been a post office at Westminster since 1644, when the House of Commons appointed its first Master of Posts, Couriers and Messengers.

TOTAL AND COMPLETE BAST***S !! THREE POST OFFICES ?

30.05.08, 9:13pm

And the really shi**y thing to take is..

I bet that all three are right next to each other..

They really do have balls of steel

Nuff Respect

• Posted by: BratislavaUK • Report Comment

MPS TO KEEP THEIR THREE POST OFFICES

30.05.08, 5:54pm

You know I and just about EVERYONE I have spoken with, CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION to arrive.

• Posted by: EmperorMing • Report Comment

ME ME ME SYNDROME AGAIN

30.05.08, 5:29pm

Did they decide that for themselves? Though I would not like, in anyway ,for anyone to think I would support such action,or would I ,However in blatant cases like this of hypocracy it would not be surprising if there were an outbreak of civil disobedience.,or shall we just nod it through ...... again

• Posted by: Maggie • Report Comment

SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT. THEGAGGLE OF MUPPETS IN THE HOUSE OF CONMEN ONLY LOOK AFTER THEIR OWN INTERESTS

30.05.08, 4:32pm

Bloody hypocrites.

• Posted by: ReubenMohawali • Report Comment

I FEEL THE URGE TO RIOT

30.05.08, 2:02pm

I feel the urge to riot, burn down parliment and throw all the MPs a Lords into the Thames.

Is it just me that has this urge or do tohers feel the same?

• Posted by: NathanHobbs • Report Comment