Portsmouth North MP Sarah McCarthy-Fry today attacked the Tories for cynical opportunism over Post Office closures.  The Tories proposed a motion in the House of Commons today calling on the Government to instruct the Post Office to suspend  compulsory closure of Post Offices,

Sarah said “This  was  a cynical ploy by the Tories to attack the government and  was  nothing to do with protecting post offices. The Post Office is currently losing  half a million pounds a day and  sadly some closures are needed to save this vital service for the future . As well as £2 billion of subsidy over the last ten years,  the Labour Government has agreed a £1.7 billion package of support over the next 4 years, including an annual network subsidy of £150 million a year. It is sheer hypocrisy of the Tories to attack the government when they did not give the Post Office a penny of subsidy when they were in power, and have not even pledged to maintain Labour’s subsidy ,  let alone commit the millions necessary to prevent these closures . I want to ensure that where closures are proposed, vulnerable people are protected which is why I fought very hard to try and persuade the Post Office that the Twyford Avenue Post Office should not be one of those closed ”

George Thomson, General Secretary of the National Federation of Sub Post Masters said “Although regrettable we believe that closures are necessary to ensure the remaining post offices are able to thrive in the future”

Sarah said  “The last thing we want to see is even  more post office closures , but sadly that is what the Tory  motion would  have  meant  and that is why I could not vote for it.. I will continue to fight for local residents and to try to prevent any further closures in the future”