Anger at Labour MPs' post office voting (From This Is Lancashire)

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Anger at Labour MPs' post office voting

1:37pm Thursday 20th March 2008

COUNCILLORS and politicians said Labour MPs should be "ashamed" after they failed to oppose the Government on the latest round of Post Office closures.

In East Lancashire, 24 branches face the axe as the Government tries to stave off losses of £4m-a-week on the Post Office network.

In the House of Commons yesterday the Conservatives called for the closures to be suspended and put the issue to a vote as part of an Opposition Day debate.

The vote to suspend closures was defeated by 268 to 288, with Pendle's Gordon Prentice being one of 19 Labour MPs rebelling against the Government.

Despite recently opposing some of the closures within their constituencies, Labour MPs such as Blackburn's Jack Straw, Darwen and Rossendale's Janet Anderson and Greg Pope, Hyndburn, all towed the Government line and voted against the proposal.

Burnley's Kitty Ussher abstained from voting.

The Labour MPs who voted with the Government have been slammed by opposition MPs and even Labour councillors.

Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley, voted for suspension of the closures.

He said: "They should be ashamed of themselves.

"They have been taking photo opportunities and saying they want to save their local branches, yet they had the opportunity to do something on Wednesday and they didn't.

"Jack Straw posed for photos with local residents and it is his Government introducing this closure programme.

"I pay tribute to Gordon Prentice for his actions.

"It's a shame others did not do the same."

Burnley council leader Gordon Birtwistle, who has campaigned against the closures in his area, was "incensed" by the actions of the Labour MPs.

He said: "They are all hypocrites. They are putting the party line before the people."

Leader of the opposition on Hynburn Council, Labour's Graham Jones, said he was disgusted with his own party.

He said: "Labour MPs in Westminster have voted consistently for policies to close post offices and are then photographed outside them protesting about the closures. It's a total embarrassment." Coun Jones also slammed the Conservatives. He said: "David Cameron's own MP's who voted in Government for similar policies are playing petty politics in opposition. No wonder the number of people voting at elections is declining."

The Lancashire Telegraph has run a campaign to save the post offices, and collected signatures which have been handed to the Post Office.

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Your Say YourThis Is Lancashire

John Duckworth, Great Harwood says...
1:47pm Thu 20 Mar 08

"" Mr Pope, who has also backed our campaign, hit back and said: "I will be raising an early day motion about the post office closures in Westminster.

"I wrote all the councillors in Hyndburn to work together in a cross party non political campaign to save the post offices that have been threatened with closure.""

LT February..

House of Parliament yesterday - Greg votes to close post offices.

Seems his early day motion was a load of cr*p. (sorry if that offends but had to squeeze it in)

I'm afraid it looks as though our MP has lost touch with ordinary people. This is what comes of having professional politicians that have never had a proper job in the real world. The extra mile to the next 'convienent' PO for the old dear on a zimmer matters not, it seems.
Seems Graham Jones has more political sense than Greg. Perhaps there will be a change of candidate for MP at reselection time....

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Ian the Beancounter, Darwen says...
2:33pm Thu 20 Mar 08

MP: Post office fight could be won
From the Lancashire Telegraph, first published Friday 22nd Feb 2008.

DARWEN MP Janet Anderson believes campaigners may be on the verge of victory in their battle to save Sunnyhurst Post Office.

Mrs Anderson held a meeting with regional bosses of the Royal Mail and is hopeful of getting a result.

And this very same MP voted AGAINST the suspension of closures. How can she ever be trusted when she takes part in full U-turns like this. Move over Janet, this town needs someone who will support their constituents and not stab them in the back like this.

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Common Tater, Lancashire says...
2:37pm Thu 20 Mar 08

Well done Gordon!
He was one of 19 Labour MPs to oppose post office closures, and one of 29 to nominate John McDonnell to stand against Brown for the party leadership.
Why don't those Labour MPs who still believe in standing up for working people join with the more radical unions - like Aslef, the FBU and the RMT - and form a new party to fight for social justice.
What about it Gordon?

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andy, spain says...
3:01pm Thu 20 Mar 08

<London 228 Miles. Well done again Kitty Ussher in coming a day nearer to you departure from an area you could not give a **** about. Get back where you belong down South your the worst MP that the town of Burnley ever elected. The other Labour Members also who voted with the Government should hang their heads in shame at the proposals of Post Office closures. Nothing is sacred to the British (Not Racists) way of life any more. Thankfully I no longer reside in the UK where since the days of Thatcher Profit always comes before People. However who is the alternative no one in my opinion who can ever trust a Tory Government. How about a Common Sense Party where every Brit regardless of Race, Colour or Religion was to be formed and get rid of those who if the Whips say Jump they reply ok and screw my constituents.

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Mrs NotVotingLabourAgain, Burnley says...
3:07pm Thu 20 Mar 08

Burnley's Kitty Ussher abstained from voting.

So our MP couldn't make her mind up whether these Post Office closures are a good thing or not? Or is it a case of her putting her career before the wishes of her constituents again, just like she did over the towns A&E?

I hope this Gordon Birtwistle runs an effective campaign as he has a real chance of winning this seat because I hardly hear anyone say a good word about Kitty Ussher or the Labour Government these days!

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paul, bly says...
3:09pm Thu 20 Mar 08

roll on local and county council elections

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Ian the Beancounter, Darwen says...
3:13pm Thu 20 Mar 08

paul wrote:
roll on local and county council elections

Hear hear!! Sadly, the diehards who only vote one way "because my Dad did and his Dad before him!" will still have enough sway to keep these back-stabbers and turncoats in power. :-(

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paul, bly says...
3:28pm Thu 20 Mar 08

not this time Ian just look at the state of all the towns in lancs high council tax dirty streets ithink the people are starting to relise labours not working

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Common Tater, Lancashire says...
3:51pm Thu 20 Mar 08

Paul
Street cleaning is the job of the district council which - in Burnley - is run by the Liberal Democrats.

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Mr Clean, Burnley says...
3:54pm Thu 20 Mar 08

The street cleaning in Burnley is a lot better than it used to be when the borough was run by Labour. Only an idiot would disagree.

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LC, Darwen says...
4:24pm Thu 20 Mar 08

For god sake Janet please resign. The day when you put your own ambitions in front of the people's you represent, the time has come to get out. You disgust me more than words can say

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clydeiboy, rossendale says...
4:43pm Thu 20 Mar 08

janet has always looked after janet the sooner she goes the better

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Tony H, Burnley says...
5:08pm Thu 20 Mar 08

Very clever Kitty.

When confronted by the party whips (her real Gods) she can honestly say she didn't vote for the motion and so was in line with the Government.

When she's confronted by a Burnley pensioner who needs the PO she can now say she didn't vote against the motion.

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letterman, Burnley says...
6:00pm Thu 20 Mar 08

Spot on about the streets Mr Clean it used to be knee deep in litter where I live when we had a Labour council. About Kitty Ussher, by abstaining from voting she proves that she is a spineless coward, when election time comes around she will be telling everyone that to have a vote is a privilege and it should be used, in other words she is a proven hypocrite.
Kitty Ussher thinks only of Kitty Ussher and her future in the party and the people of Burnley can go and whistle, she knows nothing about the working classes and she cares nothing for the working classes.

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Lee, Darwen says...
6:44pm Thu 20 Mar 08

That's the final straw for me, as a Labour supporter I have, for a while now been disappointed by Ms Andersons actions, and inactions, I have now decided not to support her at any future general election. This example of the two-faced nature of politics in general is hard to believe. There is a potential post office closure within the ward she actually lives. I think hope now that she will face up to her decision and the strong possibility that this will be her last period as the elected representative for Darwen.

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Burnleyite, BURNLEY says...
7:56pm Thu 20 Mar 08

Kitty is to pre-occupied having kids to bother about Burnley. The town's people only interfear with her life style and ambitions so don't expect her to make any waves.

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edward, Burnley says...
7:57pm Thu 20 Mar 08

You are either for or against the closure of Post Offices m/s Ussher and just can't sit on the fence. I know whether I will be for or against you being Burnley's next MP. and can asuure you my vote will be a "NO". So have a word with Gordon Brown now or that darling Alistair your treasury boss cos you will need another constituency if you are to stand for Parliamnet again

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Edward, Burnley says...
7:58pm Thu 20 Mar 08

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Dave, Rossendale says...
8:33pm Thu 20 Mar 08

All this shows is how gullible reporters are and how much most people know about politics.

Truth is the so called "Motion" in the House of Commons didn't call to stop teh closures, it called for a delay. In the debate the Tory even said that if thyey got in they'd cut Post Office funding.

As for Councillor's "outrage" what exactly is teh Liberal policy? Well that is to privitise the Royal Mail and Post Office. It would mean the teh PO lost its monopoly on Royal Mail services and then were would it be?

This all comes down to the fact that fewer people use the PO and I bet half of you igignant folks (if half of you aren't Lib Dem councillors or BNP) used teh PO it woudln't be in this mess. If I want a community "hub" I can think of better places thyat a small smelly old shop, so why don't the outraged councillors ask you to pay more poll tax and keep it open themselves? Answer: because you are all hypocrites and so are they.

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R,S, East Lancs says...
9:21pm Thu 20 Mar 08

<Ignores the obvious troll>

Well Kitty, you had the chance of making a stand. However, you chose the cowards way out. Never mind, your parliamentary colleagues may forgive you but your constituents certainly won't.

I feel a bit sorry for Gordon Prentice because he's not a bad egg and at times he has put his principles before any ambitions in the Labour govt, though I'm afraid he'll be joining both Kitty and Janet in looking for another job after the next general election.

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Old Timer, Burnley says...
9:34pm Thu 20 Mar 08

Opinions must be heard
3:23pm Thursday 6th March 2008
BURNLEY MP Kitty Ussher says it is vital residents' views are heard about potential post office closures.
From Lancashire Telegraph two weeks ago.... and we all know what views we now have on Kitty Ussher

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alan, burnley says...
11:05pm Thu 20 Mar 08

To all the critics of kitty usher and there are many ,come the next election get off your backsides and vote for either cons, liberal or independent and lets get rid of mrs usher and her utterly useless labour party.YOU ONLY GET 1 CHANCE TO VOTE EVERY 5 YEARS OR SO I URGE YOU TO USE IT.

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stefan pankow, says...
12:02am Fri 21 Mar 08

shame on any mp abstained or voted for closures. mps seem to have lost touch with real life

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Gill, Burnley says...
11:02am Fri 21 Mar 08

Well Kitty.
NO BACKBONE, I would have thought better of you if you had voted against it. You are a disgrace to our (not yours) town. We will never forget this one. All the photos in the paper with petitions why did you bother, why did you waste our time. You have really shown your true colours.A real case of career before duty. Go back where you came from and let us have someone who really does care.

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carolyn, Barlick says...
4:02pm Fri 21 Mar 08

I have never voted Labour but will be voting for Gordon Prentice. At least he is a man who sticks to his principles and knows he won't be a Minister at the expense of his constituents. He speaks for what he believes unlike the Liberals in Barlick who will NEVER get my vote again!!

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Alexander Gordon, Darwen. on says...
11:11pm Fri 21 Mar 08

I think these Local MP's who voted with the Government are very "TWO-FACED" they were fighting closures in their constituencies of some of the Post Offices but when it came sown to vote against Government they showed their TRUE colours and voted with the Government. I hope that when the next Election comes they will be voted out, that is what should happen to them NOW.

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darwenforum.co.uk, Darwen says...
11:25pm Fri 21 Mar 08

Is it worth keeping all the PO's open?

Is your PO facing closure?

darwenforum.co.uk

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spiny, Lancashire says...
3:19pm Sun 23 Mar 08

Common Tater wrote:
Well done Gordon!
He was one of 19 Labour MPs to oppose post office closures, and one of 29 to nominate John McDonnell to stand against Brown for the party leadership.
Why don\\\'t those Labour MPs who still believe in standing up for working people join with the more radical unions - like Aslef, the FBU and the RMT - and form a new party to fight for social justice.
What about it Gordon?

Unions have died a death and so have Sub Post Offices.

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Ruth, Darwen says...
6:15pm Sun 23 Mar 08

It's time to abolish parties, and all politicians should be independent. They should vote to represent the majority of their constituents and until that day arrives the house of commons will be packed to the rafters with power hungry parasites.

Goodbye Janet. Just a sorry state that there is nobody else worth voting for, but I'll vote for somebody, just not you.

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Burnley Taxpayer, Burnley says...
4:49pm Tue 25 Mar 08

I wonder how many of us now use Post Offices? Unless we go back to the old days when all benefits had to be collected at the Post Office, when TV and car licences had to be bought at Post Offices and when only Post Offices sold stamps, then we can't keep thousands of small offices open. Add to this the fact that other providers are now allowed to deliver the more proftable parts of the postal service and there is no way the current network can survive. How many of us really want to go back to that situation?

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Nigel St. Hubbins, Darwen says...
6:48pm Tue 25 Mar 08

Oh silly me, I believed that democracy meant that elected MP's reflected the view of the populace not what their leader told them to do; I thought that was dictatorship !!

Anderson; hang your head in shame you are not worthy

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