PLANS to axe 2,500 post offices – including 12 on the Fylde coast – were under renewed scrutiny today after Labour rebels came within 11 votes of forcing a halt to the closures.
Labour critics said the willingness of so many colleagues to back a Tory motion proved the depth of upset over the issue and called for a rethink.
More than 20 Labour MPs rebelled against the government and last night voted in the House of Commons for a halt to the nationwide closure programme.
Read all Stand Up For Post Office storiesBlackpool's Labour members Joan Humble and Gordon Marsden were not among the rebels.
Fylde MP Michael Jack and Wyre MP Ben Wallace, both Conservatives, voted in favour of suspending the closures.
The vote was narrowly defeated by 288 votes to 268.
Mr Jack said: "I'm disappointed not to see my Fylde coast Labour colleagues joining the Conservative lobby on this issue, especially since many of their comments on the issue have been in line with the Conservative view on post offices.
"One had hoped to see them abstain or join us, but sadly they decided not to."
Post offices in Blackpool, Lytham, Poulton, Cleveleys, Fleetwood and rural Fylde and Wyre are earmarked for closure as part of Post Office Ltd's plans.
All four Fylde coast MPs have written letters and signed up to The Gazette's Stand up for Post Offices campaign, which saw 9,416 people join a petition calling for a rethink.
But Mr Marsden told The Gazette: "The Conservatives gave no indication of an alternative strategy or that they would allocate extra funding and their motion doesn't put forward any alternative proposals." And Joan Humble questioned whether, if the Conservatives had won the vote, they would have been able to prevent the closures.
She said: "It is up to Post Office Ltd to make the decision – not the government.
"The Conservative resolution offers no mention of any financial investment for the post offices to stay open.
"The opposition is playing political games with people's livelihoods and trying to score points."
Rebel MP John McDonnell said: "The Government has always underestimated the strength of anger on the Labour backbenches against the privatisation and cuts in this essential public service.''
He said the vote was "a huge embarrassment to the Government and shows that a large number of Labour MPs are even prepared to support a Tory motion to demonstrate their concern''.
He added: "The Government is the sole shareholder in Royal Mail and could stop this closure programme in its tracks.''
Sub-postmasters across Fylde and Lancashire are now nervously awaiting news on their futures with Post Office bosses expected to make a final decision on local closures by the end of the month.
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