Post Office blackmails staff into silence

3.04.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 12th Aug 2007

David Howarth, Lib Dem MP for Cambridge, has condemned plans to blackmail sub-postmasters into silence over Government proposals to close 2500 post offices.

Postmasters have received a letter from Royal Mail bosses warning them that secret visits will be made to their post offices to ensure that they are sticking to Post Office Limited's "key messages" when discussing the closures with customers. Any postmasters who don't toe the company line risk losing any compensation package for the closure of their branch.

David commented "This is absolutely disgraceful. Post Office staff should not be blackmailed into silence. Sub-postmasters are already faced with the prospect of losing their livelihood and their customers, especially the elderly, are understandably worried about losing their local post office. It is scandalous that the Post Office is now adopting these sort of spin tactics."

Liberal Democrat leader on Crawley Borough Council and Northgate Councillor, Gordon Seekings said "We have already lost our local post office in Northgate and several more are under threat in Crawley. The Post Office is treating its hard working staff shamefully. The entire closure programme is a very terrible mistake."