New report highlights Post Office closure fears

4.14.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Sep 2006

Trevor Sword and the Liberal Democrats campaigning against Post Office closures

The Government is under renewed pressure today to reach a decision on the future of the 8,000-strong network of rural post offices after a report by Age Concern warned that older people fear financial and social isolation if Royal Mail is forced into a widespread closure programme.

Liberal Democrats would raise £2 billion to invest in post office branches, by selling off some Royal Mail shares to staff, small investors and the general public. This would enable us to -

• Open new post office branches where they are needed

• Keep the Post Office in the public sector

• Make the Royal Mail into a successful company, with new investment freedoms

• Give Royal Mail staff a guaranteed stake in their company through employee share holding and participation

• Protect and improve the service to customers that provides a daily delivery at a uniform price across the country