The highly public criticism of the announced post office closures in Glasgow by Labour party members has been exposed as deceitful and insulting to the vulnerable people who will be affected by these closures.

Records have shown that as far back as 2002 when concerns were raised over future closures in a House of Commons debate all Glasgow Labour MPs voted for these closures to take place fully aware of the future consequences they would have on their constituencies.
 

Ann McKeckin, who has been particularly vocal in her response to the proposed closures voted against a motion which called for the Labour Government to  "set out a clear policy and timetable for heading off a potentially disastrous collapse of the rural and urban network." instead voting to "'applaud the Government's decision to accept all 24 of the PIU recommendations in its June 2000 report "Counter Revolution-Modernising the Post Office Network "

The PIU report set in motion the shake up of the post office network which has resulted in the announced closures. After learning of this blatant attempt to mislead the public on labour's stance to the post office closures Sandra White MSP said:

"I fear that they will stoop to any level to 'look good' in the eyes of the public even going as far as misleading people as to their  previous stance on this issue, over five years ago every other political party voted against these closures and Labour member's had their chance to stand up for their constituents but let them down woefully"

"I would have hoped that they would have the strength of conviction and character to stick by their decisions and defend them if they believe they are right. It saddens me that they say one thing in the House of Commons in the hope that ordinary people will never know. It will certainly not help to rebuild the public's confidence in politicians"

Bill Kidd MSP was particularly scathing of the fact that no member of the Labour party is willing to take responsibility for the disasters they preside over.

"Be it Iraq, Afghanistan or the recent Scottish elections, when blame has been apportioned no-one is there to stand up and be counted to stand by their decisions and accept the consequences. The sheer lack of honesty and attempts to play for political gain that we have seen over the post office closures are disingenuous or worse especially when we consider the fact that these closures will impact on some of the most vulnerable members of society."

Bob Doris MSP continued -

"Post offices are closing mainly due to the litany of restrictions placed on them by London Government"

"Labour Politicians have stripped them of their main business functions - the processing of benefits and pensions"

"They even switched mass Government mailings to the Private sector so for them now to cry foul is double standards of the highest order"

"Its like a pickpocket complaining about having his wallet dipped"

Glasgow MSPs are calling upon the Labour members in Glasgow to publicly answer these accusations of duplicity which have been levelled against them.