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8:26am Thursday 20th March 2008
LEYTON and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen voted against a Conservative motion calling for a rethink on Post office closures.
Labour rebels came within 11 votes of forcing the postponement yesterday of plans to close 2,500 branches, including 11 in Waltham Forest and Redbridge.
The proposal to suspend the programme to enable further consultation was defeated by just 20 votes, as 19 Labour MPs revolted, slashing the Government's majority by two thirds.
Mr Cohen said: "I looked carefully at the motions, especially the two main ones - Conservative and Labour.
In effect it is a straight choice between the two.
"Generally I have a lot of sympathy with what is in the Tory motion. However, as Gordon Brown pointed out at Prime Minister's questions, the Tories do not say they would commit to any funding for the post office network.
"That makes much of what they put in their motion hollow. Without supportive funding, as the Labour Government is supplying, the situation would be worse than now.
"I therefore voted against the Conservative motion and for the Labour one. However, I have personally met with the Government Whip and said the consultation period is too short and should be extended.
"London Mayor Ken Livingstone has also made this point. Also that the criteria used must properly take into account areas with high levels of deprivation and high usage of the post offices in those areas.
"It does not do so at present. Those post offices should not close.
"The Whip promised me to communicate these essential points to Government Ministers to try to achieve a change in policy in these respects.
"I shall still be making strong representations on behalf of the two post offices in my area which are under threat."
The motion was supported by all Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs, including Chingford and Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith.
Mr Khalid, walthamstone says...
6:09pm Thu 20 Mar 08
technomist, walthamstow says...
7:25pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Mr Angry, Walthamstow Village des Idiots says...
7:47pm Thu 20 Mar 08
technomist, walthamstow says...
9:05pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Lorna, Leytonstone says...
9:26pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Mr Khalid wrote:Old ladies getting pensions through the internet? People getting dole cheques through the internet? Think Mr Khalid! Think!
yes agre that this closed post ofice must be closed becos only peopal want use is old lady get penshan and peopal get dol checked and dss claim? all this can be doned on intnet and why ned? even roadtax yyou can by on intnet and just puting regestrate of car and pay with card is esy? closed this post ofice and mak shop usfal no?
mr khalid, walthamstow says...
10:42pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Lorna wrote:oldlady must be go colage and kept up with the teconolagey and kept mind good no alcasimez dieseesed. i know meny peple lerneded lots things at colage computors english spenish france and good for the minded and sool
Mr Khalid wrote: yes agre that this closed post ofice must be closed becos only peopal want use is old lady get penshan and peopal get dol checked and dss claim? all this can be doned on intnet and why ned? even roadtax yyou can by on intnet and just puting regestrate of car and pay with card is esy? closed this post ofice and mak shop usfal no?Old ladies getting pensions through the internet? People getting dole cheques through the internet? Think Mr Khalid! Think!
Mr. T. C. Hull, Walthamstow says...
11:17pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Save Our Post Offices, E17 says...
1:27am Fri 21 Mar 08
Observer, says...
1:48am Fri 21 Mar 08
Save Our Post Offices wrote:Khalid does not want to save anything. All he wants to do is play the prat all over this website as further reading will prove to you.
Class war and the distasteful politics of envy are unpleasant at the best of times, and to use them to attack anyone for wanting to save our post offices is just pathetic and small minded. Some of you need to grow up and learn some respect for others.
technomist, walthamstow says...
9:18am Fri 21 Mar 08
md250, ilford says...
5:12pm Fri 21 Mar 08
mr khalid wrote:you are a 24 carat ****, with no doubt the smallest penis ever born to a human being.
Lorna wrote:oldlady must be go colage and kept up with the teconolagey and kept mind good no alcasimez dieseesed. i know meny peple lerneded lots things at colage computors english spenish france and good for the minded and sool
Mr Khalid wrote: yes agre that this closed post ofice must be closed becos only peopal want use is old lady get penshan and peopal get dol checked and dss claim? all this can be doned on intnet and why ned? even roadtax yyou can by on intnet and just puting regestrate of car and pay with card is esy? closed this post ofice and mak shop usfal no?Old ladies getting pensions through the internet? People getting dole cheques through the internet? Think Mr Khalid! Think!
Sidney Stake, Epping Green says...
9:45am Sat 22 Mar 08
Mr. T. C. Hull, Walthamstow says...
11:35pm Sun 23 Mar 08
Sidney Stake wrote:Again Sidney Stake is boasting of his new found (ill gotten?) wealth. Why doesn't he just move to Monte Carlo?
Come off it! Post Offices are redundant now. Pensioners love them as they like queuing for half an hour for a stamp and chatting rubbish to another one. You must move with the times. I moved from Walthamstow to here and have not used the post office once. My pension goes straight into my high interest bond thank you very much. I do not touch it. I get my car tax 'on line'. My Grandson showed me. It is easy. Close them all down and make the savings pay for courses for people to learn about the webworld and intranet. Happy Easter to you all
keith, Bell Corner says...
6:07pm Mon 24 Mar 08
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Double-Standards, Orford Road says...
12:35pm Thu 20 Mar 08
A case of double standards and a hollow promise.