Post Office Closures In Coventry

19 Labour MPs voted with the Tories to try and suspend nationwide post office closures, in a vote in Parliament last night. Neither Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) or Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry North-West) were among the rebels.

Labour MP John McDonnell said: "The government has always underestimated the strength of anger on Labour benches against the privatisation and cuts in this essential public service ... Tonight's vote is 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 ... The government is the sole shareholder in Royal Mail and could stop this closure programme in its tracks."