Post Office Protest goes ahead but MP's role questioned

Local residents, the Denshaws and Newlands Tenants & Residents Group and  Morley Borough Independent  Councillor Josie Jackson gathered at a demonstration outside Newlands Post Office last Friday opposing its closure. The demonstration was covered by local radio stations and the BBC covered it on their local website.

The demonstration supported a campaign started by Morley Borough Independent Councillors following news of two Post Office closures at Newlands and Britannia Road in Morley.

But Labour MP Colin Challen’s attendance at the Demonstration sparked a row when it came to light that the Labour MP had failed to back an opposition proposal at Westminster in March, which would have suspended all Post Office closures while a review was undertaken.  

Councillor Robert Finnigan, Leader of the Morley Borough Independents said "It is the height of hypocrisy to fail to support the suspension of the closure programme and then complain about Post Offices closing in your constituency. You cannot say one thing at Westminster and then say the opposite in Morley. The people of Morley should be treated with more respect than that."

Councillor Finnigan also pointed out that the Labour MP had also backed the Government’s proposal to remove the right of local people to have pensions and allowances paid by order book or giros at their local Post Offices.

 Councillor Finnigan said "Postmasters and Postmistresses tell me that the one thing that has made Post Offices financially unviable and has led to the large number of Post Office closures is the changes to how pensions and allowances are paid. Labour Party MPs cannot vote for something and then moan about the inevitable consequences of their actions. These closures are a direct result of Government Policy."

 Morley Borough Independent Councillors will also be supporting a further demonstration at Britannia Road Post Office .

Councillor Judith Elliott, who will be attending the demonstration said "We will continue to campaign hard to save both Post Offices which play an essential role in supporting our communities."