Post Office network – MPs launch new Parliamentary Group

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Pressure on the Government to reverse the decline of our nation’s Crown Office network, and the plummeting pay and conditions of our Postmasters which is contributing towards increased numbers of branch closures, is set to grow with the launch of a new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Post Offices.

The grouping, which is supported by Labour and Conservative MPs as well as Members from other parties, is chaired by the Shadow Minister for the Post Office

Gill Furniss (MP for Sheffield Brightside & Hillsbrough) and one of the vice-chairs is our very own Hugh Gaffney– longstanding CWU activist and now the elected Member for Coatbridge, Chryston & Belshill.

The Secretary for the Group is former North East Hampshire MP James (Lord) Arbuthnot, and Peter (Lord) Hain, another CWU supporter as well as being a prominent Parliamentarian and former secretary of state, is Treasurer.

Speaking after the APPG launch meeting last week – which attracted around 20 MPs and Peers from around the country and all sides of the political divide – Gill Furniss said: “The Post Office has always been at the heart of our communities, providing crucial services for small local business and households alike.

“Unfortunately, over recent years it has been under increasing pressures, largely due to this Government’s managed decline of the service.”

Highlighting the “cross-party frustration” she has witnessed at closures of Post Offices across the country and at the dwindling services available, Gill explained that this was why she was “determined to bring together an All-Party Parliamentary Group to shed light on these challenges and search for solutions to the issues.

“I was delighted to be elected Chair of the newly-formed APPG Post Office and I will work hard, alongside the CWU and others to ensure the issues are at the forefront of debate.”

CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey, who has warmly welcomed the new pressure group, explains that an APPG is similar in structure to a Select Committee, but without its formal authority, describing them as “informal cross-party groupings which campaign on particular areas of interest.

“It’s extremely positive that the importance of our nation’s Post Office network is recognised by so many MPs across the House – and, as well as the vital issues of franchising and office closures, we will be hoping that the APPG Post Office will also help us to highlight our Post Bank campaign,” he added.

“The next APPG meeting is scheduled for November and we look forward to further activity on these critical issues to ensure the Post Office has a long-term future”.