Halewood MP votes for Post Office closures.

12.00.00am GMT Tue 25th Mar 2008

LIBERAL Democrats in Halewood have accused Eddie O'Hara of failing to support local services after he voted to support the Government's massive post office closure programme.

The Government has ordered that one in five branches be closed. Opposition MPs tried to stop the closure programme on 19th March 2008 when a motion was proposed in the House of Commons demanding the Government halt their plans to make 2500 branches shut up shop.

But enough Labour MPs rallied around the Government's closure plans to reject the motion and ensure the closure programme can continue unhindered. One of those voting to close post offices was Knowsley South's Labour MP Eddie O'Hara who currently represents Halewood.

Disappointed local Liberal Democrat campaigners are calling on Eddie O'Hara to explain why he voted to close post offices.

"Eddie O'Hara has let down people in Halewood and across Knowsley by voting to allow the closures to continue," said local Lib Dem campaigner Harry Birch. "Last December Mr O'Hara claims he responded to the consultation and opposed the closure of the post office in Bailey's Lane. This was an opportunity for Eddie O'Hara MP to make a stand on behalf of local residents. I am disappointed he has now appeared to have done a u-turn and chosen to back the Government rather than local people.

"The loss of post offices will hit communities hard in Knowsley. They are vital assets for many local people and closing them will cause many difficulties for older people and others with mobility problems, in particular.

"Despite the decision of Eddie O'Hara to help the Government press ahead with closure, Liberal Democrats are continuing to fight the demolition of the post office network," added Harry Birch.