Birmingham's Labour MPs vote for Post Office closures

12.58.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 4th Apr 2008

Liberal Democrats in Birmingham have accused Birmingham's Labour MPs of failing to support local services after 7 of them 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 on 19th March, when a motion was proposed in the House of Commons demanding that 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. Among those voting to close post offices were the following Birmingham Labour MPs:

Richard Burden (Birmingham Northfield)

Liam Byrne (Birmingham Hodge Hill)

Lynne Jones (Birmingham Selly Oak)

Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham Perry Barr)

Steve McCabe (Birmingham Hall Green)

Sion Simon (Birmingham Erdington)

Gisela Stuart (Birmingham Edgbaston)

Disappointed local Liberal Democrat campaigners are calling on Birmingham's Labour MPs to explain why they voted to close post offices.

"These MPs have let down people in Birmingham by voting to allow the closures to continue," said Councillor Robert Wright. "In June the announcement will be made as to which local branches will be put forward for closure. This was an opportunity for Birmingham's Labour MPs to make a stand on behalf of residents. I am disappointed they have backed the Government rather than local people.

"The loss of post offices will hit communities hard in Birmingham. They are vital assets for many local people and closing them will cause many difficulties, particularly for older people and others with mobility problems.

"Liberal Democrats are continuing to fight the demolition of the post office network."

Related Links:

Support the Save Our Post Offices campaign.

Full text of the Opposition motion.

See how your MP votes.