Islington News: Labour supporters echo MPs' split on closure of post offices, Jeremy Corbyn, Emily Thornbury

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 28 March 2008

Emily Thornberry

Labour supporters echo MPs’ split on closure of post offices

‘There are times when you must cross political divide to do the right thing’

LABOUR supporters were divided this week over the contrasting stances taken by the party’s two Islington MPs over post office closures.
Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn voted with the Conservatives against the threatened closure of 2,500 of Britain’s post offices, said to be losing £4million a week.
But Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry opposed the Tory motion and supported a Labour amendment recognising harsh financial times and urging the government to continue to hold talks with the Post Office in an effort to reduce the number of closures.
Mr Corbyn joined 18 other Labour MPs in backing the Conservative motion calling for an immediate halt to the closures. It was defeated by 20 votes.
Ms Thornberry says she took her stance rather than engage in what she described as “political posturing”. And this week she declared that the Essex Road post office could be saved or at the very least be replaced by an equivalent counter service.
Labour supporters interviewed this week made it clear they believed both MPs voted according to their conscience.
Retired full-time post office union official for north-west London, George Durack, supported Mr Corbyn. The former Islington Labour councillor said: “As much as I dislike the Tories, I support Jeremy. I believe there are times when you must cross the political divide to do the right thing.”
Labour councillor Martin Klute thought that Ms Thornberry was doing the “pragmatic” thing in a difficult situation.
He added: “Rather than making a noise she’s been working behind the scenes over Essex Road, trying to broker a deal between the Post Office and the government. She’s working with the people who can make a difference and getting them to talk to each other.”
But his fellow Labour councillor, Gary Doolan, favoured Mr Corbyn’s stance. Cllr Doolan said: “This is not about politics – this is about saving a service used extensively by the community. If it means voting against the government to save our services then that’s what you’ve got to do.”
Former Labour MP Roy Roebuck, who lives in Angel, also supported Mr Corbyn, pointing out that post offices are under threat because of a directive from the European Union preventing them being subsidised by the government.
“Logically, Corbyn’s vote is right,” he added. “He’s trying to use the Commons to halt the decline of this important service.”
But Labour councillor Wally Burgess understood why Ms Thornberry could not vote with the Tories. He said: “You get fed up with these motions that contain political traps.
“The Lib Dems do the same on Islington Council, which is why we are rarely able to pass any sensible motions.”

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