Matheson calls for Moratorium on sham office consultation

Falkirk West MSP, Michael Matheson has described the Post Office consultation as a "total joke".

This follows the revelation that the Royal Mail's consultation on post office closures will mean that any Post Office saved will only be replaced by another in the same area.

This shattering news was released to Glasgow SNP MSP Sandra White in a written reply to a questioned posed by the SNP back bencher.

Michael Matheson said,

"The news from the Post Office network confirms our worst fears in that the in the manner in which the Labour UK government has set closure targets for local post offices.

The news that if one post office is saved a non threatened post office must close instead places a huge question mark over the integrity of the consultation process.

Sandra White has not only delivered the killer blow to the Labour Government's credibility but has also raised a motion within the Scottish Parliament calling on the UK government to scrap this phase of closure and begin a review of the post office network in partnership with the Scottish Parliament and local authorities. I will be supporting that motion and I would urge Labour MSP's to stop protecting their Westminster colleagues and support Sandra's motion."

Falkirk Council is due to debate the post office closures at its Policy and Resources committee on 13 November. Labour Councillors have already blocked an SNP motion calling on Labour MPs to support the campaign to retain all existing post offices. This showed the duplicity of the Labour Party with the protection of the reputations of Labour MPs being considered more important than genuinely campaigning for a reversal of Labour Party policies.

Notice has also been given that there will be a further public meeting in the Thornhill Road Community Centre organised by the SNP fighting for the retention of the Post Office there.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday 20 November at 7.00pm and will be attended by representatives of the Post Office Network to discuss their closure plans, should be interesting.