Bedford and Kempston MP votes for post office closures

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have accused Bedford and Kempston Labour MP Patrick Hall of failing to support local services after he 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 last night 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. One of those voting to close post offices was Bedford and Kempston's MP Patrick Hall.

Local Liberal Democrats, who launched the Save Bedford's Post Offices campaign after local branches due for closure were mistakenly published on the internet last year ahead of a consultation this summer, are calling on Patrick Hall to explain why he voted to close post offices.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for De Parys Ward David Sawyer, who has campaigned to save Kimbolton Road Post Office since the internet blunder revealed that it is one of seven branches in Bedford Borough due for closure, said:

"In July the announcement will be made as to which branches here will be put forward for closure. We already know which branches are most likely to close here, as they were published on the internet accidentally last year. Communities across the borough have received the devastating news that they face the prospect of losing their essential local post office. Last night Bedford and Kempston's Labour MP had an opportunity to make a stand on behalf of those communities. Instead he has backed the Government's scandalous closures rather than local people.'

"The loss of post offices will hit communities hard in Bedford Borough. They are vital assets for local people and closing them will cause many difficulties for older people and others with mobility problems, in particular. The Labour Government seems determined to rip the heart out of our local communities, and it is outrageous that Patrick Hall is backing this approach.'

"Despite the decision of our Labour MP to help the Government press ahead with closure, Liberal Democrats are continuing to fight the demolition of the post office network and to Save Bedford's Post Offices."