Stevenson Slams Government Decision On Post Offices

Member of the Scottish Parliament for Banff & Buchan Stewart Stevenson MSP today slammed the Government for failing to give practical support for the Rural Post Office Network in Scotland.

The Government have announced that 2500 post offices face closure throughout the UK, with Scotland’s rural post offices being particularly heavily hit by this decision.

Mr Stevenson said:

“I recently took part in a debate in the Scottish Parliament, in which I pushed hard for the Scottish Executive to make forceful representations to the UK Government to prevent Scottish post offices being wiped out.

“They clearly have not done so and this is quite simply not acceptable to communities throughout Scotland. Post offices in the rural areas of Banff & Buchan are a vital backbone of local community life, essential to both the economies and social life of these areas.

“I am sorely disappointed with the Scottish Executive for failing to make adequate representations to the UK Government to secure the future of the rural post office network in Scotland. The outcome of this decision will hit Scottish rural community life hard and this clearly has not been considered by the Government.

“The Government needs to give firm and clear support for post offices to ensure they remain part of community life, and what we need is a coherent plan which can secure their future.”