Norwich MPs Criticised Over Post Office Vote

6.24.00pm GMT Thu 20th Mar 2008

Norwich's Labour MPs have been criticised today for voting against a Parliamentary motion which would have suspended the post office closure programme. The motion was rejected last night by just 20 votes.

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, has been leading a citywide campaign protesting against the closure programme. He has collected over 1,000 petition signatures. Mr Wright revealed last week that Vauxhall Street Post Office will be amongst those facing closure.

Responding to the vote in the House of Commons, Mr Wright said:

"I am so disappointed that Charles Clarke has chosen not to support our local post offices in Norwich, despite the strength of support that there is from his own constituents. So many local people rely on the branches we have in the city. Elderly and disabled people need to have local services available to them, and many small businesses in Norwich also rely on having a local post office. We have a number of independent shops in the city that benefit from the spin-off trade that a local post office brings to them."

"Over the last few years Norwich has had a series of post office closures, and we can't afford to lose any more. I have learnt that the Vauxhall Street Post Office is facing closure, and there will be other branches in Norwich that are lost too. The list of branches in the city proposed for closure will be published next week. It is so important that we all stand up and fight for our local post offices. Our Labour MPs in Norwich have let us down badly by not opposing this closure programme. However, the rest of us must continue fighting."