Dr Phyllis Starkey MP and Andrew Pakes, Labour Parliamentary Spokesperson for MK North, have launched a new website to help keep our local Post Office branches open.

The new site www.mkpostoffice.com contains information about the forthcoming review of local branches by the Post Office Ltd and details of people can show their support for their branch.

The new website shows all local branches and details of the proposed consultation and campaign resources - such as a model letter and poster - that can be downloaded for local use.

Tories letting down business on Heathrow - Hoon

Geoff Hoon MP, Labour's Transport Secretary, commenting on calls from the Mayor of London's International Business Advisory Council for London for Boris Johnson to reconsider his opposition to a third runway at Heathrow, said: "The fact that the council has had to use its very first meeting to try to explain to Boris Johnson the need for a third runway just goes to demonstrate the lack of leadership shown by both Boris and David Cameron on this issue. "Having ducked and flip flopped on this question for so long, the Tories have now confirmed that they would refuse to support the thousands of British jobs and businesses which rely on Heathrow's status as a major international hub airport. "Heathrow supports 170,000 jobs directly, and many more indirectly, billions of pounds of British exports and is our main gateway to the global economy. "Labour is the only party which has shown leadership in recognising that the expansion of Heathrow - subject to meeting strict local environmental conditions on noise, air quality and surface access - is important for British business and jobs."... more...

Cameron offers nothing to meet the challenges we face - Cooper

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour's Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to David Cameron's speech at Conservative Party Conference, said: "David Cameron always makes a smooth and polished speech, but where was the substance? "Cameron says he is a man with a plan. But all we got was warm words and easy populism. Where were the credible alternatives? "In the last few weeks the world has changed. For all his talk of change David Cameron shows no sign of keeping up with events, and still offers nothing to meet the serious economic and financial challenges we face. "David Cameron made judgement the test today, but on the major issues in these challenging economic times he has called it wrong - Northern Rock, Bradford and Bingley and voting against emergency powers to save banks. "It's no good just talking about responsibility if you won't back difficult responsible decisions to support financial stability. It's no good talking about reining in borrowing, then promising high speed rail links and tax cuts. And it's no good claiming society is broken then offering nothing but warm words. "In his speech today David Cameron did little to show that the Conservative Party has changed and little to show he has the experience or judgement to take us through difficult times."... more...

Tory European policy would put Britain's economy at risk - Murphy

Jim Murphy MP, Labour’s Europe Minister, responding to William Hague’s speech to the Conservative Party Conference today said: “Yet again the Conservatives have failed to come clean over their plans for Europe. Today William Hague refused to rule out a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty even if it is ratified by every other EU country. As he well knows the only way to reopen negotiations on a ratified Treaty would be to renegotiate Britain’s entire relationship with the EU, leading to years of instability and damaging British jobs and British business. “The Conservatives are a lone voice in Europe. They have failed to secure any mainstream support for their European policies. In fact their proposals -from renegotiating the Lisbon Treaty, to withdrawing from the Social Chapter and the European People’s Party - have only attracted criticism from world leaders and business alike. “It is about time the Tories stopped hiding behind vague promises and came clean about their real plans which would put Britain’s influence and leading position in the EU at risk.”... more...

PM’s Eid al-Fitr message

Gordon Brown has issued a special message to the Muslim community as it celebrates Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan. Dear friends, I am delighted to send my best wishes to everyone celebrating Eid al-Fitr. I am aware that Eid al-Fitr is a special time of year for Muslim communities in the UK and all across the world. It marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan - the month of fasting for Muslims, which is also the month of charity, family, contemplation, and recitation of the Qur’an. I know Eid al-Fitr is a joyous occasion but also a day of gratitude for the everyday blessings we enjoy in life. It brings together friends and families, and encourages Muslims to continue the teachings from the month of Ramadan throughout the rest of the year- particularly the lessons of giving, community and charity. These shared values are reflected in the generosity that British Muslims have shown over the years in helping those less fortunate than themselves across the world. At this special time for Muslim communities we can also reflect on the tremendous contribution of British Muslims to British life over many decades. Eid al Fitr is a festival that we can all learn from. My best wishes to you and your family. Eid Mubarak Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP... more...

Prime Minister's Jewish New Year Message

The Prime Minister has sent greetings to the Jewish community on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year that began at sundown on Monday. Dear Friend, At this special time in the Jewish calendar, it gives me great pleasure to extend my warmest greetings to the Jewish Community in the UK. British Jewry has a long and proud tradition, and in the year ahead I hope you continue to grow, and continue to make such a valued contribution. This year, and every year, may all your prayers be answered and may your new year be peaceful, successful and joyful. I wish you and your families Shanah Tovah. With best wishes, Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP... more...

Tories are following where Labour leads - McNulty

Tony McNulty MP, Labour's Home Office Minister, responding to Dominic Grieve's speech at Tory Party Conference, said: "The Tories are once again following where a Labour government leads, with their suggestions for changes to Health and Safety legislation and to the treatment of 'have a go' heroes by the police and prosecutors. "We are already working with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the National Policing Improvement Agency and the Health and Safety Executive to put into place new protocols to ensure that police officers and PCSOs are not prevented from carrying out their duties by Health and Safety legislation. "Police officers and PCSOs play a vital role in our community, tackling and reducing crime in sometimes dangerous circumstances. The lives of police officers and PCSOs are as important as those of the people they serve, and this government will back the police service in the day-to-day operational decisions they make in protecting the public against crime and terrorism. And we will ensure that the criminal justice system is firmly weighted in favour of the victim, not the criminal. "On ID cards, Dominic Grieve clearly isn't paying attention. Only last Thursday, Jacqui Smith launched the first UK identity card. ID cards will help protect against identity fraud, illegal working, and reduce the use of multiple identities in organised crime and terrorism. "Dominic Grieve heaped praise on David Davis. But he was silent about his predecessor's opposition to CCTV... more...

Gove's Swedish schools experiment would cost billions - Adonis

Andrew Adonis, Labour's Schools Minister, responding to Michael Gove's speech at Tory party conference, said: "Michael Gove calls for 'straight talk' but it's time the Tories came clean about the true cost of their Swedish model. He needs to tell us what he would cut to pay for these 5,000 schools. Until he can answer this question, their "free" schools are just fantasy schools compared to our 1,200 real academies and new or rebuilt schools nationwide. "Labour has set up more than 130 new academies, built or rebuilt more than 1,200 schools, and employed 40,000 extra teachers, raising standards nationwide. "Nearly 300 extra academies are also planned and funded, and we are supporting parents who want to set up their own schools, creating a new generation of co-operative trust schools. "When the Tories first proposed a few hundred new "Swedish style" schools they conceded they would have to cut £4.5 billion from our school building programme to pay for the capital costs. But the 5,000 schools the Tories are now talking about would cost many billions more. "Where is this money going to come from and how are they going to deal with the impact on existing schools?"... more...

Tories can't be trusted on NHS - Primarolo

Dawn Primarolo MP, Labour's Health Minister, said: "On a day when the Tories are talking about responsibility in public spending, it's astonishing that they have produced a new unfunded £1.57bn spending commitment on single rooms in NHS hospitals. "And in a major u-turn, after running campaigns against local clinically-led service changes, the Tories have now dropped their commitment to oppose all reconfigurations of A&E and maternity services. Having realised their mistake in opposing the Darzi review, the Tories are trying to catch up with the lead Labour has set on the NHS, but they can't sound convincing. "They still want to scrap Labour's guarantees that suspected cancer patients wait no more than two weeks to see a specialist and start treatment within a month of diagnosis, that nobody waits more than 18 weeks for their operation, and that nobody waits more than four hours in A&E. "Their plans to make it harder for people to see their GP in the evenings and at weekends show that the Tories still aren't on the side of patients."... more...

Latest flip-flop on nuclear shows Tories can't be trusted with business success - Hutton

John Hutton MP, Labour's Business Secretary, today said: "By opposing Heathrow expansion and now casting fresh doubt on their support for new nuclear power, the Conservatives have today shown they are too weak to take the major decisions so businesses and the economy can succeed. "First David Cameron said nuclear was a 'last resort', then they told people they were in favour of nuclear power, but now Alan Duncan has gone back to saying the Tories are not convinced new nuclear is necessary - only that it 'may' be needed. "Sitting on the nuclear fence and pandering to fashionable causes is no longer an option for the Tories - we need to say yes to new nuclear now so investors have the certainty to build new stations as quickly as possible to stop us being dependent on foreign gas supplies in the future. Businesses recognise that energy security is vital for our future - so they will be dismayed by Alan Duncan's latest flip-flop on nuclear power."... more...

Osborne's council tax pledge is a con - Cooper

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour's Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to George Osborne's speech at Tory party conference, said: "George Osborne had his chance to say what the Tories would do about Bradford and Bingley and the huge problems facing the global financial system. He blew it. We heard nothing about how they would deal with the greatest financial shock to hit the world for decades. "George Osborne's council tax pledge is a con - it could only be introduced if local councils make big cuts in public services. They have failed to set out where any savings would come from. "George Osborne said he wanted to cut borrowing but offered no policies to deliver this. Instead his economic plan still promises billions of tax cuts and today they added billions more in spending commitments such as new high speed rail links. "Just as George Osborne is talking nonsense on banking, he is talking nonsense on the public finances too."... more...