If only the Tories had voted to save our Post Offices

12.07.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrats have pointed to the fact that eleven Tory MPs including David Cameron failed to turn up for their own crucial Opposition Day Motion vote on current Post Office closures ensuring the Government won the day despite a rebellion by Labour MPs.

Jonathan Chatfield Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson for South East Cambridgeshire said:

"Even the Daily Mail's political correspondent has described the Conservative action has "a highly successful Tory wheeze."

"Tories don't really want to stop the Post Office closures, because that would require them having a plan to find the money to save them.

"Instead they used a matter of grave concern to get some publicity and score points off the Government. The Tory behaviour is quite despicable.

"Many vulnerable people depend on their local Post Office. Liberal Democrats are opposed tooth and nail against these closures which were going on under the previous Conservative government as well.

"We are not giving up the fight and are supporting local campaigners in their efforts to get the plan overturned,

"Meanwhile I have discussed the plight of our Post Offices with our front bench spokesperson Sarah Teather MP to ensure that she is fully briefed about our situation here in South East Cambridgeshire."