John Cameron

Greater Manchester’s 4 Liberal Democrats MPs have joined forces to campaign against today’s announcement that 67 of 380 Post Office branches in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Derbyshire are to close.

Liberal Democrat Cheadle MP Mark Hunter, Manchester Withington MP John Leech, Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, and Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell launched a petition outside Spring Gardens post office in the city centre.

Withington MP John Leech said:

“I am appalled that Labour plan to close 5 more Post Offices here in Manchester, on top of the 21 they allowed to close over the last 3 years. Post Office branches are a lifeline for many residents, providing vital services in an accessible location. I urge local people to sign our petition against these closures! “

The Government are currently closing 2,500 branches. These are in addition to the 4,000 that have already been axed since Labour came to power in 1997 and the 3,500 that were closed by the previous Conservative government.

The offices to shut include 11 in Stockport; 8 in Oldham; 5 in Manchester; 7 in Bolton; 5 in Bury; 7 in Rochdale; 3 in Salford; 6 in Tameside; 3 in Trafford and 1 in Wigan.

 In South Manchester, Ladybarn Post Office on Mauldeth Road and East Didsbury Post Office on Wilmslow Road are now earmarked to close, making life harder for local people and underming the viability of nearby local shops.

 Councillor John Cameron said:

“We will fight tooth and nail to stop these closures. These Post Offices are needed by the people of South Manchester and Labour are wrong to close them on so-called economic grounds.”