WALTHAM FOREST: Bitter political row erupts over post office closures (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: Bitter political row erupts over post office closures

4:24pm Monday 25th February 2008

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COUNCIL leader Clyde Loakes' condemnation of post office closures has been described as "breathtaking hypocrisy" by his coalition partners.

Cllr Loakes expressed anger at the planned closure of six branches in the borough, saying they are a vital community resource.

But Liberal Democrat leader Keith Rayner said his comments were a "cynical attempt to deflect criticism" and slammed the Labour group for not supporting a motion in 2003 aimed at protecting local post offices.

Accusing Cllr Loakes of performing a political u-turn, Cllr Rayner said: "I believe that residents will see this as an appalling display of hypocrisy by the Labour leader.

"The Labour leader's comments are incredible when considering that he and his group voted against a council motion which aimed to protect those in most need of post office services.

"The apparent attempt to now stand up to the Labour Government is at least five years too late.

"It will surely be seen as little more than a cynical attempt to deflect criticism and distance the Labour Party in Waltham Forest from their colleagues in Westminster who have pushed through this programme of post office closures through.

"Whatever happened to the idea of collective responsibility?

"What has Cllr Loakes got to be angry about? Local Labour councillors knew these closures were coming and blew any chance to show dissent against their Government's plans.

"Only now, when they are feeling the full force of public feeling from Waltham Forest's residents on this issue, do they feel obliged to speak out."

Cllr Loakes hit back saying: "I have been mandated by the council motion to stand up against post office closures.

"(The Labour group) put forward some amendments because, basically, we did not believe privatisation was the way forward.

"We have a good relationship but at the end of the day, we are two different political organisations and occasionally there will be difficulties as our approach is different.

"But I hope at this point everybody would be concentrating on saving post offices rather than raking up a debate that happened five years ago."

Conservative group leader Mat Davis insisted it is Cllr Rayner who is guilty of a "greater hypocrisy" by continuing with the Lib-Lab coalition.

He said: "Labour voted against a motion to save post offices before, and that was wrong then and it is wrong now.

"But Cllr Rayner has been propping up a continually crisis-hit administration "Very simply, we are completely and utterly opposed to post office closures .

"I was surprised at a number of the post offices in Waltham Forest on the list. They are very well-used. I can't understand where the justification is for their closure."

Branches in Hall Lane, Chingford, Grove Green Road, Leytonstone and Leyton High Road have been earmarked for closure.

And three branches in Walthamstow, in Forest Road, Orford Road and Chingford Road, also face the axe.

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