Lib Dems fury as Labour blame "enormous salaries" of post masters for closures

12.59.00am GMT Fri 19th Jan 2007

Kirklees Liberal Democrats are furious to find Labour Councillors blaming the “enormous salaries” of post masters for causing the Governments Post Office closure programme.

Kirklees Liberal Democrats are furious to find Labour Councillors blaming the "enormous salaries" of post masters for causing the Governments Post Office closure programme.

"I was flabbergasted to hear Labour Councillors attacking hard-working postmasters and mistresses" says Councillor Nicola Turner. "One in six post offices in Kirklees are facing closure and all the Labour group can do is support the government line and blame local people. Everyone knows that there has been a steady erosion of the services that Post Offices are allowed to offer which has lead to large numbers closing because they are not viable."

"Successive Conservative and Labour Governments have overseen the closure of 8,000 post offices in recent years. On top of this, the current Labour Government has undermined the post office network by removing £168million worth of business from post offices in the last year alone - from benefit payments to TV licences and tax discs" says Councillor Turner.

"I am surprised that Labour Councillors are just supporting the Government's position" says Councillor Turner. "Post office closures are just the latest in a long line of blows to our rural communities. Village shops, banks and schools have all been hit recently. In many places in the Colne valley and house prices are simply out of reach of the people who were born and have grown up locally."