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Anger at Labour MPs' post office voting
1:37pm Thursday 20th March 2008
COUNCILLORS and politicians said Labour MPs should be "ashamed" after they failed to oppose the Government on the latest round of Post Office closures.
In East Lancashire, 24 branches face the axe as the Government tries to stave off losses of £4m-a-week on the Post Office network.
In the House of Commons yesterday the Conservatives called for the closures to be suspended and put the issue to a vote as part of an Opposition Day debate.
The vote to suspend closures was defeated by 268 to 288, with Pendle's Gordon Prentice being one of 19 Labour MPs rebelling against the Government.
Despite recently opposing some of the closures within their constituencies, Labour MPs such as Blackburn's Jack Straw, Darwen and Rossendale's Janet Anderson and Greg Pope, Hyndburn, all towed the Government line and voted against the proposal.
Burnley's Kitty Ussher abstained from voting.
The Labour MPs who voted with the Government have been slammed by opposition MPs and even Labour councillors.
Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley, voted for suspension of the closures.
He said: "They should be ashamed of themselves.
"They have been taking photo opportunities and saying they want to save their local branches, yet they had the opportunity to do something on Wednesday and they didn't.
"Jack Straw posed for photos with local residents and it is his Government introducing this closure programme.
"I pay tribute to Gordon Prentice for his actions.
"It's a shame others did not do the same."
Burnley council leader Gordon Birtwistle, who has campaigned against the closures in his area, was "incensed" by the actions of the Labour MPs.
He said: "They are all hypocrites. They are putting the party line before the people."
Leader of the opposition on Hynburn Council, Labour's Graham Jones, said he was disgusted with his own party.
He said: "Labour MPs in Westminster have voted consistently for policies to close post offices and are then photographed outside them protesting about the closures. It's a total embarrassment." Coun Jones also slammed the Conservatives. He said: "David Cameron's own MP's who voted in Government for similar policies are playing petty politics in opposition. No wonder the number of people voting at elections is declining."
The Lancashire Telegraph has run a campaign to save the post offices, and collected signatures which have been handed to the Post Office.
Your Say YourTelegraph
Burnley Taxpayer, Burnley says...
4:49pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Ruth, Darwen says...
6:15pm Sun 23 Mar 08
Goodbye Janet. Just a sorry state that there is nobody else worth voting for, but I'll vote for somebody, just not you.
spiny, Lancashire says...
3:19pm Sun 23 Mar 08
Common Tater wrote:Unions have died a death and so have Sub Post Offices.
Well done Gordon!
He was one of 19 Labour MPs to oppose post office closures, and one of 29 to nominate John McDonnell to stand against Brown for the party leadership.
Why don\\\'t those Labour MPs who still believe in standing up for working people join with the more radical unions - like Aslef, the FBU and the RMT - and form a new party to fight for social justice.
What about it Gordon?
darwenforum.co.uk, Darwen says...
11:25pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Is your PO facing closure?
darwenforum.co.uk
Alexander Gordon, Darwen. on says...
11:11pm Fri 21 Mar 08
carolyn, Barlick says...
4:02pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Gill, Burnley says...
11:02am Fri 21 Mar 08
NO BACKBONE, I would have thought better of you if you had voted against it. You are a disgrace to our (not yours) town. We will never forget this one. All the photos in the paper with petitions why did you bother, why did you waste our time. You have really shown your true colours.A real case of career before duty. Go back where you came from and let us have someone who really does care.
stefan pankow, says...
12:02am Fri 21 Mar 08
alan, burnley says...
11:05pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Old Timer, Burnley says...
9:34pm Thu 20 Mar 08
3:23pm Thursday 6th March 2008
BURNLEY MP Kitty Ussher says it is vital residents' views are heard about potential post office closures.
From Lancashire Telegraph two weeks ago.... and we all know what views we now have on Kitty Ussher
R,S, East Lancs says...
9:21pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Well Kitty, you had the chance of making a stand. However, you chose the cowards way out. Never mind, your parliamentary colleagues may forgive you but your constituents certainly won't.
I feel a bit sorry for Gordon Prentice because he's not a bad egg and at times he has put his principles before any ambitions in the Labour govt, though I'm afraid he'll be joining both Kitty and Janet in looking for another job after the next general election.
Dave, Rossendale says...
8:33pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Truth is the so called "Motion" in the House of Commons didn't call to stop teh closures, it called for a delay. In the debate the Tory even said that if thyey got in they'd cut Post Office funding.
As for Councillor's "outrage" what exactly is teh Liberal policy? Well that is to privitise the Royal Mail and Post Office. It would mean the teh PO lost its monopoly on Royal Mail services and then were would it be?
This all comes down to the fact that fewer people use the PO and I bet half of you igignant folks (if half of you aren't Lib Dem councillors or BNP) used teh PO it woudln't be in this mess. If I want a community "hub" I can think of better places thyat a small smelly old shop, so why don't the outraged councillors ask you to pay more poll tax and keep it open themselves? Answer: because you are all hypocrites and so are they.
Edward, Burnley says...
7:58pm Thu 20 Mar 08
edward, Burnley says...
7:57pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Burnleyite, BURNLEY says...
7:56pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Lee, Darwen says...
6:44pm Thu 20 Mar 08
letterman, Burnley says...
6:00pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Kitty Ussher thinks only of Kitty Ussher and her future in the party and the people of Burnley can go and whistle, she knows nothing about the working classes and she cares nothing for the working classes.
Tony H, Burnley says...
5:08pm Thu 20 Mar 08
When confronted by the party whips (her real Gods) she can honestly say she didn't vote for the motion and so was in line with the Government.
When she's confronted by a Burnley pensioner who needs the PO she can now say she didn't vote against the motion.
clydeiboy, rossendale says...
4:43pm Thu 20 Mar 08
LC, Darwen says...
4:24pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Mr Clean, Burnley says...
3:54pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Common Tater, Lancashire says...
3:51pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Street cleaning is the job of the district council which - in Burnley - is run by the Liberal Democrats.
paul, bly says...
3:28pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Ian the Beancounter, Darwen says...
3:13pm Thu 20 Mar 08
paul wrote:Hear hear!! Sadly, the diehards who only vote one way "because my Dad did and his Dad before him!" will still have enough sway to keep these back-stabbers and turncoats in power. :-(
roll on local and county council elections
paul, bly says...
3:09pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Mrs NotVotingLabourAgain, Burnley says...
3:07pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Burnley's Kitty Ussher abstained from voting.
So our MP couldn't make her mind up whether these Post Office closures are a good thing or not? Or is it a case of her putting her career before the wishes of her constituents again, just like she did over the towns A&E?
I hope this Gordon Birtwistle runs an effective campaign as he has a real chance of winning this seat because I hardly hear anyone say a good word about Kitty Ussher or the Labour Government these days!
andy, spain says...
3:01pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Common Tater, Lancashire says...
2:37pm Thu 20 Mar 08
He was one of 19 Labour MPs to oppose post office closures, and one of 29 to nominate John McDonnell to stand against Brown for the party leadership.
Why don't those Labour MPs who still believe in standing up for working people join with the more radical unions - like Aslef, the FBU and the RMT - and form a new party to fight for social justice.
What about it Gordon?
Ian the Beancounter, Darwen says...
2:33pm Thu 20 Mar 08
MP: Post office fight could be won
From the Lancashire Telegraph, first published Friday 22nd Feb 2008.
DARWEN MP Janet Anderson believes campaigners may be on the verge of victory in their battle to save Sunnyhurst Post Office.
Mrs Anderson held a meeting with regional bosses of the Royal Mail and is hopeful of getting a result.
And this very same MP voted AGAINST the suspension of closures. How can she ever be trusted when she takes part in full U-turns like this. Move over Janet, this town needs someone who will support their constituents and not stab them in the back like this.
John Duckworth, Great Harwood says...
1:47pm Thu 20 Mar 08
"I wrote all the councillors in Hyndburn to work together in a cross party non political campaign to save the post offices that have been threatened with closure.""
LT February..
House of Parliament yesterday - Greg votes to close post offices.
Seems his early day motion was a load of cr*p. (sorry if that offends but had to squeeze it in)
I'm afraid it looks as though our MP has lost touch with ordinary people. This is what comes of having professional politicians that have never had a proper job in the real world. The extra mile to the next 'convienent' PO for the old dear on a zimmer matters not, it seems.
Seems Graham Jones has more political sense than Greg. Perhaps there will be a change of candidate for MP at reselection time....
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Nigel St. Hubbins, Darwen says...
6:48pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Anderson; hang your head in shame you are not worthy