Outrage as Edinburgh North & Leith Labour MP votes for city post office closures

4.17.55pm GMT Thu 20th Mar 2008

Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh North & Leith have reacted furiously after Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz voted to support the Government's massive post office closure programme.

The Government has ordered that one in five branches across the UK be closed. However, the currently secret list of post office branches lined up for closure in Edinburgh will not be published until August.

Opposition MPs, including the Liberal Democrats, tried to stop the closure programme yesterday (19th March) when a motion was proposed in the House of Commons demanding the Government halt their plans to axe 2,500 branches.

However, enough Labour MPs rallied around the Government's closure plans to reject the motion and ensure the closure programme will continue. One of those voting to close post offices was Edinburgh North & Leith MP, Mark Lazarowicz.

Furious Liberal Democrat campaigners are now calling on Mr Lazarowicz to explain to his constituents why he voted to close post offices.

Kevin Lang, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith said,

"Mark Lazarowicz has let the people of Edinburgh North and Leith down badly. I think local people will be astonished to know their local MP voted loyally with the Government to press ahead with a massive post office closure programme.

"Our area has already been hit hard by post office closures in recent years with the loss of branches in Comely Bank, Newhaven, the New Town and Blackhall. Now, the remaining local post offices and the people who rely on them face an uncertain future.

"The Liberal Democrats will be ready to fight any further local post office closures. However, when the list of branch closures is eventually published in August, people in Edinburgh North and Leith will know their local Labour MP did nothing to stop them when he had the chance in the House of Commons."