Watson - slash and burn of Post Offices nothing to do with Brussels

12.53.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Jul 2008

Graham with postmaster Peter Knight, and his wife, Sue, as well as local campaigners outside Hinton St. George Post Office in Somerset. Graham is showing section 103 of the Postal Services Act 1990, which allows the Government to authorise subsidies to Post Offices.

Local Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson continues to lend his support to local campaigners from across the region who are fighting to save their local Post Offices, and has criticised the government's lack of imagination. The weekend Graham met with local Campaigners at Hinton St. George in Somerset.

Graham Watson said,

"It was great to meet the Post Master and local campaigners who are fighting to save this Post Office and store which is so important for local people.

This Post Office is an important resource integral to the Community. The government's short sighted slash and burn approach is doing nothing to improve the network, it's not investing in our Post Offices long term future and allowing them to expand the services they offer."

Graham went on to rebut claims that EU rules prevented Governments assistance to the network;

"The Government can subsidise Post Offices if it they really want to. They have been classed as an essential public service for our local communities, it's just they have a lack of imagination on moving the business forward. The closure plans have nothing to do with any "diktat" from Brussels."