House of Hypocrites

I thought it was worth putting this article (see below), by the Echo's Kate Bodinger, on site.

The front page headline on today's Echo, "Gutless", says it all.

I am furious with Kim Howells. A few weeks ago I asked myself if it was fair to say he was a hypocrite.

Well, because I try to look for the good in people I concluded he wasn't.

I was wrong.

I was naive.

During our campaign I can now see clearly how he revelled in equivocation, what a contrast his words were to the bold, forthright campaigning of Jane Davidson AM.

How can anyone trust a man like Howells, as far as I'm concerned he is about as straight as Spaghetti Junction.

Howells and the Labour MPs who abstained or voted with the Government yesterday should hang their heads in shame.

Read on.

SOUTH Wales Labour MPs this morning defended their decision not to back a Conservative plan to shelve post office closures.

Across South Wales more than 20 post office branches have been closed in the last few weeks.

The Conservative amendment proposed to suspend the closure programme pending further consultation. All MPs were given the opportunity to vote on the Tory proposal in the House of Commons last night.

Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan had campaigned against the closure of Llandaff North Post Office, but abstained in Parliament.

She said she did not feel she could support the Government or the Tory amendment.

“The proposal the Tories put forward hadn’t been thought through at all,” she said. “It was really a political gimmick. I didn’t feel I could support that either.

“I do accept in some ways it’s not the Government’s fault because people have stopped using the post offices. I just feel perhaps we could have had a more pro-active plan to save the post offices. I felt I was in a very difficult position.”

Caerphilly MP Wayne David had campaigned for the Twyn main post office in Caerphilly to be saved, but he voted against the amendment, and as a Labour whip would have helped to ensure that other Labour MPs backed the party line.

He said he had voted against the Tory motion because it represented “pious political opportunism” on the Opposition’s part.

He said: “I have always said the Post Office plc cannot keep losing £500,000 a day nationally. Money has got to be saved but it is up to the Post Office how to save that money.”

“What happened last night was a Tory stunt and I will continue to fight to save post offices like Gilfach, Bargoed which is still under review. It is not up to Government to tell the Post Office how to run its business.”

Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan also accused the opposition of “playing some politics”. “Post Offices are losing half a million pounds a day,” he said. “The network has to be reduced in size. They were just asking us to delay the consultation.”

Huw Irranca-Davies, MP for the Ogmore constituency, said he also backed the Government in the vote.

“I voted with the Government and against the opposition motion because I agree with the National Federation of Postmasters,” he said. “The political opportunism in opposition to simply ignore the crisis and bury their heads in the sand is quite something to behold. The Post Office needs to be put on a sustainable footing.”

Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon said: “I voted with the Government.

“I think the Tories were playing games with a very important issue. It’s completely hypocritical because they put nothing into the post office in 18 years of government

“I don’t play games. I fight for what is best for my constituents.”

But Post Office campaigners say Labour MPs in South Wales should have voted more strongly against the Government. Peter Gunnery, 64, a disabled grandad who went on hunger strike in protest at the proposed closure of his local post office on Sanquahar Street, Splott, Cardiff, said he was disappointed the plans were still going ahead.

He said: “Obviously I’m devastated that my post office is going to close but I’m resigned to it now. It does give me some hope that some Labour MPs have voted for a suspension of the closures. The Tories will never get back in Wales but I’m glad they are against the plans too.”

How they voted

Julie Morgan (Lab, Cardiff North) - abstained

John Smith (Lab, Vale of Glamorgan) - did not vote

Alun Michael (Lab, Cardiff Sth and Penarth) - voted with Government

Wayne David (Lab, Caerphilly) - voted with Government

Chris Bryant (Lab, Rhondda) - voted with Government

Kim Howells (Lab, Pontypridd) - voted with Government

Dai Harvard (Lab, Merthyr and Rhymney) - voted with Government

Huw Irranca-Davies (Lab, Ogmore) - voted with Government

Madeleine Moon (Lab, Bridgend) - voted with Government

Jenny Willott (Lib Dem, Cardiff Central) - voted against Government

Kevin Brennan (Lab, Cardiff West) - voted with Government

Essex leads the way

Essex County Council's bold and well-publicised decision to consider reopening and running 15 post offices has brought an unexpected glimmer of hope to people across the country.

(For background information to this story please go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7289939.stm)

I contacted Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks and Labour AM Jane Davidson yesterday about this development and I was happy to hear that both of them are examining the possibilities that Essex's lead may bring.

Find below a copy of a letter, dated March 12th, that Jane has written to Russell Roberts, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taff.

County Borough Councillor Russell Roberts
Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC
Leader’s Office
The Pavilions
Clydach Vale
Tonypandy
CF40 2XX

Dear Russell,

Re: Llantrisant Post Office

As you will be aware, I have been working closely with Llantrisant residents over recent months regarding the closure of the town’s Post Office.

Residents have recently contacted me in relation to the news reports of Essex County Council’s interest in taking over the running of a number of their county’s Post Offices, and are keen to learn whether RCT has considered a similar initiative.

I should be most grateful if you could provide me with your thoughts on this matter.

Best wishes

Yours sincerely

Jane Davidson
Assembly Member for Pontypridd

I will write a little letter to Russell later today informing him of this site and the strength of feeling in our town.

I will update you if and when I receive further information on this.

The final word

I'll end this site with a picture of our beautiful town, one taken by Christine Gittins, a lady whose fine work is available in the Model House.

This photograph is partly for Post Office Ltd. an organisation which claimed it carried out extensive research in our area...but then wrote that the hilltop town of Llantrisant was "hilly in parts."

Well, that's like saying Everest has the occasional slope.

It was an insult to our intelligence and particularly the old people of our town, but I'll let that go now, it's time to move on.

This site is closing today and the fight has been lost.

However, I console myself with the knowledge that our campaign showed there's a great spirit amongst our townfolk.

The town on the hill will keep on shining and keep on looking resplendent from miles around, that's a certainty.

I hope good times lie ahead for Llantrisant because our townfolk deserve a taste of fortune.

I wish Colin and Lynne all the best in the future.

Social evening

There was a social evening at Caerlan Hall last night, it was to mark the closure of our post office.

I was due to go but some last minute personal problems scuppered my plans, much to my disappointment.

If anyone wants to write about the evening or has some pix they want to share, the stage is yours, be my guest, just get in touch.

I'm really sorry I could not attend, I hope it was a good evening.