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Glasgow MPs fail to show for debate on P.O. closures
 

by Brian Currie

GLASGOW'S Labour MPs have been accused of "shameful" behaviour after failing to turn up for a Commons debate on Post Office closures.

Although most of them have voiced concern about the re-structuring, the SNP revealed that Mohammad Sarwar, Ann Mckechin, Ian Davidson, John Robertson, Tom Harris and David Marshall did not show for the debate at Westminster last Thursday.

City nationalist MSPs Sandra White and Bob Doris criticised their absence.

Ms White said: "Glasgow Labour MPs have shown blatant disregard for their constituents by firstly voting for these closures and secondly not even bothering to turn up to debate the issue in the House of Commons."

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Her Holyrood colleague Mr Doris said: "Not only have they previously voted for the process that is leading to our Post Offices being closed by Labour, but they cannot even be bothered to attend the debate. They should be ashamed of themselves."

However, the criticisms were rejected by Glasgow North West MP John Robertson, who today presented a 2000-strong petition to the Commons.

Mr Robertson said he had intended to contribute to last Thursday's debate but had another engagement with Phonepay Plus - the regulatory body for premium rate services - as chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Communications.

He said he was particularly concerned about the future of post offices in Kingsridge, Drumchapel, Crow Road and Temple.

He added: "I have collected 2000 names to my petition against the closure of Post Offices in my constituency.

"Other Labour MPs throughout Glasgow are mounting similar campaigns. In all of this I have received no assistance or help from the SNP MSPs in Glasgow, who have done nothing but snipe at the work we have been doing in our campaign to save post offices."

In a letter to Sally Buchanan, the Post Office's Network Development Manager, Mr Robertson criticised the closure programme as "flawed" and "extremely detrimental" to his constituents.

Despite their current opposition, all Glasgow Labour MPs voted for the closures in 2002.

Twenty-two post offices in Glasgow are scheduled to shut under the plans.

Ms White has lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament condemning the "uncertainty and distress" created by the proposal.

It also criticised the Glasgow Labour MPs for not attending last week's debate.

Publication date 06/12/07

Posted by: workinhard, Glasgow on 11:10am Thu 6 Dec 07
'shameful' behaviour by politicians - surely not!!!!???
Posted by: Craig Munro on 11:14am Thu 6 Dec 07

all Glasgow Labour MPs voted for the closures in 2002


Says it all really.
Posted by: Stewie Griffin, Glasgow on 11:46am Thu 6 Dec 07
Democracy in action. Why does this city insist on return Labour MPs to parliament?

Get rid of them.
Posted by: jrb, glasgow on 12:15pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Once again those sponging selfish elected members of parliement have shown those who voted them that the don't care a jot.The lot of them have one thing in mind and one thing only and that is to abuse their position,make as much cash for themselves as possible and to ensure that when they retire,and we are still working,that they have a huge pension to enjoy.
How many times in the past few years have mps and cabinet members been found to be useless,totally lacking in any skills apart from feathering their nests,yet there is always a position to be found for them be it here or that other gravy train in brussels.
Is there any one in this country prepared to honour their pledge to stand up and fight for the people who elected them and have the courage to say 'no' and not tow the party line
when it's policys effect the very people they promised to represent.An example of this i'll serve the people spiel was neil kinnock and look at the positions he has held recently oh and his wife and sons have a seat on the above mentioned train as well.Go on think has anyone you have elected in the last ten years improved your lives,made this a country worth living in? ,I dont think there is one to be found anywhere,with any party.
Posted by: Grandpaw, Glasgow on 1:00pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Stewie Griffin wrote:
Democracy in action. Why does this city insist on return Labour MPs to parliament? Get rid of them.
Why does this city insist on return Labour MPs to parliament?

Because in Glasgow there still exists the idea that:-
" ma faither voted Labour, an' he wid turn in his grave if a didnae vote Labour"

Of course, the Labour party in their " faither's " day , doesn't exist any more.....
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 1:08pm Thu 6 Dec 07
The Labour Party - a party you can rely on, a champion of the poor and needy - We will listen to the people of Scotland and we will focus on the issues that really matter - was that not one of Mad Wendy's statements at the summer?

The roses have now withered and are ready for dying!

We can only await more revelations with regards to Labour's failings, its good to hear that some people in Glasgow are finally waking up and realising that Labour is a party with no clear goals for the future of Scotland!
Posted by: daz, glasgow on 1:22pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Haud on!

did those Labour politicians not have some of the highest expenses claims (includes travel) in the recent ET article?
what are they actually doing when they're in London supposed to be on ministerial business? Shopping?
Posted by: puskas, Glasgow on 1:40pm Thu 6 Dec 07
The next General Election cannot come quick enough... Waken up Glasgow voters...

Surely the Labour MP's cannot be collecting names on a petition after voting for the closure of these very same Post Offices.

Labour MP's wouldn't do such a thing... LOL

Riddled with sleaze corruption from the top to bottom.

To the genuine people who are fighting to keep the Post Offices' open. Best wishes in your fight I hope you are successful..

Posted by: the man, moral high ground on 1:50pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Alex Salmond might be arrogant etc. but he at least fights long and hard for Scotland . I was opposed to the Nats . but now they are the only politicians who fight for Scotland and its people . Independence ......well lets try it .
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 2:18pm Thu 6 Dec 07
the man wrote:
Alex Salmond might be arrogant etc. but he at least fights long and hard for Scotland . I was opposed to the Nats . but now they are the only politicians who fight for Scotland and its people . Independence ......well lets try it .
We have nothing to lose after all the long years of incompetence and deliberate programme of deprivation coming from Westminster.
Posted by: Tom McCoist, New York on 2:25pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Why the surprise ? , when have any labour MP.S actually kept any pledge .
For John Robertson to complain about lack of help from the SNP , when HE voted to close these Post Offices beggars belief .
As someone born and bred in the Southside in the 1950.s , I want to say this to my fellow Glaswegians , and Scots alike .... the time has come to stand up and be counted .. the Labour Party we all knew has long gone , they know it and you better get used to articles like this until you do something about it .
There is only one answer , that is the SNP ... can they really be any worse than this crowd of selfish greedy labour crowd at the moment ... I think not .
Posted by: pete, Bearsden on 2:48pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Perhaps the poor dears have something else (more pressing) on their collective minds (if they have any) at the present time.
Posted by: jrb, glasgow on 2:49pm Thu 6 Dec 07
No matter what we say nothing will change,and where is the socialist parties? there has been enough time for them to regroup but all we hear is silence,come on lets hear what your got to say tommy and colin.....
Posted by: thinkin, glasgow on 2:57pm Thu 6 Dec 07
I got a letter from the Glasgow SNP MSPs asking for my views as a local resident on the closure of my local post office, which I freeposted back to them.
Today I have recieved a copy of the report they have compiled which shows that over 2000 people responded and 99% were against the closures.
If this is what John Robertson means by,

"Other Labour MPs throughout Glasgow are mounting similar campaigns. In all of this I have received no assistance or help from the SNP MSPs in Glasgow, who have done nothing but snipe at the work we have been doing in our campaign to save post offices."

Then he has no idea of what is going on. I found the consultation carried out by the SNP MSPs showed that they are the ones working hard to save the Post Offices and I was shocked at the fact that they got back and even sent me a copy of the report to boot.

However not as shocked as when I learned that petitions are inadmissable to the consultation process. The Labour lot have once again shown that they are really quite useless



I am also shocked to learn from the Post Office that a petition is inadmissable to the consultation process.

Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 3:06pm Thu 6 Dec 07
The hypocrisy of MP's like John Robertson knows no bounds. Truly they think we are idiots to be treated like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed sh!te.
Posted by: Craig Munro on 3:41pm Thu 6 Dec 07
John Robertson MP said:

"I have collected 2000 names to my petition against the closure of Post Offices in my constituency"

This is not admissable as evidence.
And what are you going to do with it John?

Would you like a suggestion?
Posted by: mulross, Glasgow on 4:29pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Hmmmmmm - don't see the SNP's Bill Kidd joining in with his colleagues attack on Labour members not showing up. That couldn't be because two jobs Kidd knows that he is in a pretty vulnerable position as regards his attendance at meetings??
Posted by: roor06, glasgow on 4:34pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Perhaps, not a bad thing !
Lets b honest, the only "letters" that arrive on time r, demands for £££ ... :o(
Posted by: Liz, Glasgow on 4:49pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Why has this story been taken off the front page and moved to page 7? Do they think people in Glasgow don't want to know how the Labour MP's are treating us? Who decreed the move? I think we should be told.
Posted by: stmonan, Glasgow on 4:53pm Thu 6 Dec 07
These MPs are just lobby fodder for the party which has run the postal service into the ground anyway. If they had made some hypocritical and basically pointless last stand, would it have made the slightest difference?
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 5:14pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Liz wrote:
Why has this story been taken off the front page and moved to page 7? Do they think people in Glasgow don't want to know how the Labour MP's are treating us? Who decreed the move? I think we should be told.
ON ye go Liz, get stuck right in there ;-)
Posted by: Graham, Glasgow on 5:24pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Nothing wrong with the postal service. I get my f,n bills on time on a regular basis. The postal service was backwards for years and needs sorted out. Most of you plonkers above have not got a clue about parliament procedures. Learn something about it before you Gob Off. The SNP WILL NOT RE-OPEN THE POST OFFICES. JUST LIKE THEY WILL NOT RE-INSTATE OUR REGIMENTS, AS PROMISED,BY SALMOND.
Posted by: Darren Wood, Glasgow on 5:28pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Typical hypocrisy from the Labour MP's. Not only do they claim to be campaigning to save PO's they voted to close, when given the chance to argue for their retention they fail to show up! Absolutely outrageous!
Posted by: Darren Wood, Glasgow on 5:34pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Graham wrote:
Nothing wrong with the postal service. I get my f,n bills on time on a regular basis. The postal service was backwards for years and needs sorted out. Most of you plonkers above have not got a clue about parliament procedures. Learn something about it before you Gob Off. The SNP WILL NOT RE-OPEN THE POST OFFICES. JUST LIKE THEY WILL NOT RE-INSTATE OUR REGIMENTS, AS PROMISED,BY SALMOND.
Perhaps you should learn something Graham. Unfortunately Westminster has control over Post Offices and Regiments.

Who's the plonker now. :-)
Posted by: The Missing City, Glasgow on 5:56pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Graham wrote:
Nothing wrong with the postal service. I get my f,n bills on time on a regular basis. The postal service was backwards for years and needs sorted out. Most of you plonkers above have not got a clue about parliament procedures. Learn something about it before you Gob Off. The SNP WILL NOT RE-OPEN THE POST OFFICES. JUST LIKE THEY WILL NOT RE-INSTATE OUR REGIMENTS, AS PROMISED,BY SALMOND.
This guy seems to be sniffin the EVO STIK Eh? ;-)
Posted by: Richard Quinn on 6:08pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Liz wrote:
Why has this story been taken off the front page and moved to page 7? Do they think people in Glasgow don't want to know how the Labour MP's are treating us? Who decreed the move? I think we should be told.
It is shameful that the Labour Party MP's who voted for the cutbacks in the Post Offices, have the cheek to not turn up to hear, and take part in the debate last Thursday.

It wisnae me that done it mister.
It wis a big boy that done it and ran away.

Whit a pathetic shower they are.

I suspect that the Labour High Heid Yins have been having a wee word with the Times editor and insisted that they remove such bad publicity from the front pages of their paper to page seven.

Who runs the newspapers in Scotland ?.
The Labour Party of course.

The sooner we have another election the better.

.
Posted by: smarticus, Glasgow on 6:15pm Thu 6 Dec 07
These MPs do not have time to represent the normal Glasgow Citizens. They are too busy working on their expenses forms and lining their own pockets to worry about a minor issue like Post Offices closures. What do they actually do for the wages and perks they get? How many extra Police Officers / Nurses or Firemen could be paid for if their travelling expenses were chopped. It would probably take a nurse about 10 years to earn what some of tnem claim in Travelling expenses for a single year. The solution to getting rid of these couldn`t care less parasite MPs is to vote them out and try an alternative party to run Glasgow. If we keep voting for these people, how can we then complain about them when they renege on their reponsibilities to the people.
Posted by: silverfox, glasgow on 6:34pm Thu 6 Dec 07
jrb wrote:
Once again those sponging selfish elected members of parliement have shown those who voted them that the don't care a jot.The lot of them have one thing in mind and one thing only and that is to abuse their position,make as much cash for themselves as possible and to ensure that when they retire,and we are still working,that they have a huge pension to enjoy. How many times in the past few years have mps and cabinet members been found to be useless,totally lacking in any skills apart from feathering their nests,yet there is always a position to be found for them be it here or that other gravy train in brussels. Is there any one in this country prepared to honour their pledge to stand up and fight for the people who elected them and have the courage to say 'no' and not tow the party line when it's policys effect the very people they promised to represent.An example of this i'll serve the people spiel was neil kinnock and look at the positions he has held recently oh and his wife and sons have a seat on the above mentioned train as well.Go on think has anyone you have elected in the last ten years improved your lives,made this a country worth living in? ,I dont think there is one to be found anywhere,with any party.
Is there any one in this country prepared to honour their pledge to stand up and fight for the people who elected them and have the courage to say 'no' and not tow the party line
when it's policys effect the very people they promised to represent
Posted by: Graham, Glasgow on 6:43pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Darren Wood,5:34. Who has the responsibility at present is not the issue. The SNP IN AN INDEPENDANT Scotland will not reverse the closures. They will not re-instate the Regiments as promised. It is OK mouthing off when you are not in power. What you do when in power is a different matter.The SNP HAVE TAX RAISING POWERS. They can easily support! the PO IN SCOTLAND. NO ONE CAN PREVENT THEM FROM DOING SO.The fact is all the political parties want to reform the PO BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYER. PERHAPS YOU ARE THE PLONKER!!
Posted by: Darren Wood, Glasgow on 8:10pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Graham wrote:
Darren Wood,5:34. Who has the responsibility at present is not the issue. The SNP IN AN INDEPENDANT Scotland will not reverse the closures. They will not re-instate the Regiments as promised. It is OK mouthing off when you are not in power. What you do when in power is a different matter.The SNP HAVE TAX RAISING POWERS. They can easily support! the PO IN SCOTLAND. NO ONE CAN PREVENT THEM FROM DOING SO.The fact is all the political parties want to reform the PO BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYER. PERHAPS YOU ARE THE PLONKER!!
Tell you what I'll lend you a shovel and you can dig a bigger hole for yourself.

What a plonker! PMSL :-)
Posted by: roor06, glasgow on 8:24pm Thu 6 Dec 07
This city is being scweezed ...
Lets have a revolution ...
Posted by: roor06, glasgow on 9:59pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Err ... Perhaps, they didn"t get their mail ...
Posted by: Brian Blessed, Glasgow on 2:31am Fri 7 Dec 07
Ann McKechin's website says:

"The Post Office has proposed closing 50 per cent of the post offices in Glasgow North constituency. I am campaigning against this decision, which is totally unacceptable."

Not bothering your bum turning up to Parliament to debate the closures doesn't sound like campaigning to me - more like hypocritical lies.
Posted by: roor06, glasgow on 10:37am Fri 7 Dec 07
Aw, naw .. how im gonna pay ma bills ...
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