Following the Government's announcement that they will cut the number of Post Offices nationally by 2,000, Jonathan Djanogly, MP for the Huntingdon constituency has spoken out in support of Post Offices in his constituency.
Jonathan Djanogly MP said that "If it is 2000 post offices to close this year without effective reform of the system, then why shouldn't another 2000 close next year? I am very concerned by the damaging effect that closures would have on community life within Huntingdon.
The Government are saying that the Post Office is losing £4 million a day - and that figure has doubled from what it was two years ago - surely, this is an admission of the Government's failure to introduce reforms to the Post Office service."
And speaking of the changes the Government have made, he added:
"They have offered no safeguards that they will not close more post offices in future, they have not clarified what will happen to the independent watchdog which is there to ensure quality service, and we still do not know which post offices are earmarked for closure. On top of this, the Government have refused proper consultation periods for local plans and have not addressed the shortcomings of the Post Office card account. Essentially, the Government have only offered a patchy response to the Post Office's needs and are failing our rural communities.
I fully believe that Post Offices are a vital part of our community life, playing an important social role. I fully support the Conservative Party's campaign to save the Post Office network. We need to work together to save our post offices. The Post Office needs to provide an improved service and more post offices must become 'one stop shops' for government services. Councils should be encouraged to consider opening 'council counters' in local branches
But we also need, wherever possible, to use our village post offices."