Clarke says scrap post office plans

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Norwich South MP Charles Clarke has called for Labour to make a fresh start - and to suspend the ongoing review of Post Offices - following last week's pummelling in the nationwide local elections.

The former Home Secretary outlined his vision for his party in an article for Progress, the independent organisation for Labour party members and trade unionists.

Calling for the Post Office review to be suspended, Mr Clarke said it had become clear to him, from his experience in Norwich, that the red tape surrounding the process has led to errors - such as the Vauxhall Street post office being treated as if it does not have a cash machine.

He said the review should be stopped so alternative proposals can be worked up to give the Post Office more commercial freedom - in the hope that more branches can escape the cull.

This would mean the government's plans to axe its multi-million pound subsidy to Post Office Ltd would be put on hold.

There are currently proposals to close six city and 51 Norfolk-wide branches, however thousands of people have voiced their anger at the move by signing the Evening News' petitions.

Labour ministers have rallied around Prime Minister Gordon Brown following the poor showing in last Thursday's local elections, which left the Conservatives rubbing their hands with glee, especially after their candidate Boris Johnson seized London's mayoralty from Ken Livingstone.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband branded talk of a leadership challenge “utter rubbishâ€

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Progress, the independent organisation for Labour party members and trade unionists.

Link: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/index.asp