A wolf in sheep’s clothing

Tuesday was full Council and it’s was the meeting where the annual budget is agreed. The budget went through as expected but before that happened the Conservative group and the Labour group both moved emergency motions on the 8 post offices that are lined up to be closed in the borough of Barnet.

The motions were similar and opposed (as I do) the proposed closures, including one post office in my ward (Potters Road). It must be quite difficult for the Labour group to oppose something so strongly that their party is responsible for. Since Labour came to power we have seen 4000 post offices close and another 2500 under threat.

The Conservatives portray themselves as the champions of local post offices. However their record is no better than Labours. When the tories were in power they closed 3500 post offices. In my speech on the motion I pointed this out and asked Cllr Coleman (who was moving the tory motion) what a future tory government would do about the post office. I’m sure it won’t surprise you to know that I did not get an answer. In the end we voted for both motions. The tory motion was passed. I’m not sure that getting the Chief Exec of Barnet Council to write to the government will worry them greatly but at least our opposition to these cuts is on record.

In the meantime my advice to High Barnet residents is by all means sign the tories petition but make sure you object directly to the post office. In the letter I have put out to the 500 households most affected by the Potters Road closure I have given full details of exactly how to oppose closure. Remember the sheep currently collecting signatures were the wolves busy closing post offices a few years ago!