Put up or shut up, MP tells Liberals

A GOVERNMENT minister has challenged Oldham’s Lib-Dems to find the money to save Lees post office.

Oldham East MP Phil Woolas has been accused of hypocrisy by the Lib-Dems for voting to close 2,500 post offices, nationally, while fighting to save Lees.

But Mr Woolas, an environment minister, who recently wrote to the Post Office’s network development manager, Richard Lynds, with reasons why Lees should not close, has in turn accused the Lib-Dems of playing political football with the issue.

He said: “The Liberal Democrats have hijacked the campaign to save Lees Post Office and are using it to score political points.

“If they are so concerned about the branch, why don’t they use council money to underwrite the post office, as council rules allow them to do.

“In my opinion, where a sub-office has a viable future, a cross-party campaign to show the Post Office has made a mistake with its calculations has been proven to work. The Lib-Dems’ campaign is endangering the Lees office by making it a political football.”

But Elwyn Watkins, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary hopeful in Oldham East, said: “Mr Woolas has consistently voted for the principle of closing 2,500 post offices, but is nonetheless jumping on the bandwagon and claiming to be doing his bit to save Lees Post Office.

“The Lib-Dems have consistently campaigned on this issue year after year, whereas Mr Woolas voted in favour of closures as recently as March.

“Oldham’s Lib-Dems have worked with the various communities, collected petition signatures, and are making representations to the Post Office.

“But that won’t be easy as Mr Woolas has already ensured that many must close through his actions in Parliament.

“He is trying to close the door once the horse has bolted. I know that people will not be conned by his gesture politics.”