Use your profits to keep our post offices open, says Withington MP

5.22.21pm GMT Mon 3rd Nov 2008

The Post Office should use its profits to help keep local post offices open according to Manchester Withington's Liberal Democrat MP, John Leech.

John Leech MP led a strong campaign with residents, sub-postmasters and Lib Dem councillors to stop the closure of local post offices

Recent figures released by Royal Mail Group show that for the 6-month period between April and September of this year, the Post Office Limited, which is responsible for the running of the post office network generated a £28 million profit for the group. This came at the same time as the company was closing post offices allegedly on financial grounds.

John Leech, who led the fight to keep local post offices open in his constituency, said:

"These figures are an insult to the hundreds of local residents who backed the campaign that I led with sub-postmasters, residents, customers and Lib Dem councillors to keep our post offices open. The Post Office has been telling us for months that these closures are necessary on financial grounds but in the meantime they have been raking in millions in profits."

"I want to see this profit poured back into the network so that local communities like Ladybarn and East Didsbury, who have suffered from the closures can once again benefit from the vital local services that having a post office provides."

<ENDS>

Notes to editors:

1) On 21st July 2008, John Leech delivered a petition signed by 1,500 residents of south Manchester to parliament, calling on the government to prevent the closure of Ladybarn and Parrs Wood post offices.

2) The figures outlined (alongside others for the Royal Mail Group) are available at: ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rmg/200809_Trading_Statement.pdf