Short-Termist Post Office Policy Backfires On Other Departments

5.20.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Oct 2004

Commenting on the launch of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters' Manifesto today, Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, said: "This manifesto contains many practical proposals which we support. If the Government is serious about maintaining the post office network they will have to implement all these proposals and more.

"The has been much-trumpeting of savings apparently made by the Department for Work and Pensions in forcing people to have their pensions and benefits paid into bank accounts.

"The unintended consequences of these savings is to leave us with a non-viable network that needs intensive care from other Government departments.

"This is the worst example of badly thought out, short-termist policy from this Government."

Notes

The NFSP, which represents the vast majority of the UK's 16,000 sub postmasters, unveiled its manifesto at the House of Commons today. The manifesto lists a series of unfulfilled Government promises and warns that further inaction could mean the end of the post office network. The 12-page manifesto lists the physical state of the post office network today and calls for immediate action on a number of fronts to prevent the network's further decline.