Ken Doesn't Care About London's Post Offices - Paddick

5.06.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 10th Mar 2008

Today [Tuesday] Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate Brian Paddick will present a petition to Downing Street protesting against the closure of London's post offices. He will be joined by Liberal Democrat MPs Tom Brake and Sarah Teather.

Brian Paddick slammed Ken Livingstone for failing to meet with the relevant Government minister to discuss saving 169 of London's post office, despite having the powers to do so.

Commenting on the revelations, Brian Paddick said:

"I think it's a disgrace that for the last six months, Ken Livingstone couldn't be bothered to meet with Government ministers and find a way to save London's post offices.

"It is only the Liberal Democrats who are campaigning to save Post Offices from closure. Both Conservatives and Labour have closed thousands of post office branches.

"For a Labour Mayor to neglect the most vulnerable members of society, who rely heavily on the vital services provided by their local post office, shows gross disregard for his responsibilities as Mayor."

Notes

1. In response to Parliamentary Question number 189392 from the Liberal Democrats, Patrick McFadden, Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform revealed that the Mayor had not found the time to meet with him since September 2007, even though it was widely known that London post offices would be heavily affected by the closures announced on 19th February this year.

<http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-03-03c.189392.h&s=section%3Awrans+speaker%3A10063#g189392.q0>