Post Office boss stamps PM’s card

Interesting comments from the Managing Director of Post Office Ltd over yet more threatened closures.

Alan Cook has told the Commons Business and Enterprise Select Committee he would oppose any Government proposals “to further shrink the size of the network.”

Already Labour Ministers have decided to force more than 2,500 branches to shut nationwide including, of course, four in Keighley and Ilkley

It is clear that Mr Cook has had enough of being Gordon Brown’s fall guy.

The closures we have already seen have caused great stress and anxiety across the community in Keighley and Ilkley, particularly amongst elderly and disabled residents.

Last week I wrote to Gordon Brown to demand that the closure programme is brought to an immediate end.

It would be very helpful if his Labour Party colleagues in Keighley and Ilkley – including the MP - would have the courage and integrity to join me in this fight.

At the moment, their silence is deafening.

Government under friendly fire

"We will do everything in our power” to help members of the Armed Forces, said Gordon Brown in response to comments from General Sir Richard Dannatt – head of the Army – in this morning’s press.

In an unprecedented move for someone still in post, Sir Richard had complained that many of his soldiers were paid less than traffic wardens. Although obviously meaning no disrespect to traffic wardens for the often difficult job they do, few of them can realistically claim to be in any mortal danger. This, unfortunately, is not the situation our soldiers generally find themselves these days.

The Government argues that servicemen and women currently benefit from, for example, improvements to healthcare. However, surely this should go without saying considering the injuries and worse so many of them have had to endure – and continue to endure - in war zones over recent years.

Indeed, the recurring allegation that the Government is in constant breach of the Military Covenant is very well-founded.

Following the highly-publicised snub of the Police when their independent pay recommendations were rejected by the Home Secretary on the instruction of Gordon Brown, Labour’s disregard for our men and women in uniform has again been exposed.

And once again, this Government has been found to be out of step with the people they supposedly serve.