A secure future for the Post Office and the Royal Mail

John McFall has campaigned tirelessly to secure the future of the Post Office, in West Dunbartonshire and across the UK.

A sustainable future for the Post Office

Watch

Clydebank senior citizens call on John McFall to support proposals for a Post Bank See larger size video

John McFall recognises the importance of the services the Post Office provides to people in West Dunbartonshire and across the country - particularly in rural or low income areas and to vulnerable groups such as elderly people and disabled people.

In light of the controversy surrounding the Government's plans to sell a stake in the Royal Mail, John McFall believes that public-sector solutions for the Royal Mail should be explored. He believes that an adequate amount of funding for the Royal Mail could be found without partially privatising the business.

Read John McFall's article in the Guardian calling for the Government to consider fully public-sector solutions for the Royal Mail.

Recently John McFall has been calling on the Government to expand the role the Post Office plays in providing financial services. He believes that the Post Office is a trusted institution which could offer people an alternative to commercial banks - a Post Bank. Expanding the financial services the Post Office provides would make the Post Office's business model more commercially sustainable and secure its future.

Read John McFall's article in the Guardian calling on the Post Office to be transformed in to a full provider of financial services.

John McFall has also campaigned against Post Office closures in West Dunbartonshire. Read more

Successes

John McFall played an important role in the campaign for the Post Office to keep its Post Office Card Account (POCA).

Read John McFall's article in the Guardian on the Post Office Card Account.

Watch

John McFall welcomes the Government's announcement to award the Card Account contract back to the Post Office © Parliamentary copyright See larger size video

An announcement was made on 13th November 2008 that the campaign had been successful, and that the Post Office would be keeping the Card Account!

If the Post Office had lost the contract to provide the POCA service, then up to 6,000 Post Office branches could have been forced out of business across the UK. No doubt some of these would have been in West Dunbartonshire.

These forced, uncontrolled closures would have been in addition to the 2,500 planned closures which are already taking place.

The POCA is a useful service which allows people to receive their benefits and state pensions and collect them at the Post Office. It is simple, safe and secure, and there is no risk of incurring charges or going overdrawn.

• There are almost 4 million POCA users across the UK.
• 750 million payments have been made into these accounts since the service began in 2003.
• Over 98% of POCA customers say they are satisfied with the service.

If the Post Office had lost the POCA contract, the effect would have been disastrous. Thousands of Post Offices would be forced to close.

Latest News

30th September 2009
Brown happy to jump on Post Office bandwagon
Article in the Scotsman

17th June 2009
My solution to the Royal Mail part-privatisation problem
Article for the Guardian

17th June 2009
John McFall calls on the Government to consider public-sector solutions for the Royal Mail

6th May 2009
We need a thriving, prosperous Royal Mail
Article for the Clydebank Post

24th April 2009
Clydebank Senior Forum calls for a "Post Bank"

9th January 2009
Britain needs a state bank
Article for the Guardian

13th November 2008
Minister congratulates McFall as Post Office card contract is renewed

7th November 2008
Post Offices face a red card day
John McFall's article for the Guardian

7th November 2008
Government under fire over threat to Post Office card account
Article about John McFall in the Guardian

7th November 2008
MP warns POCA withdrawal decision ‘would come back to haunt us’

16th July 2008
MP backs Post Office bid to hold on to card account service

12 November 2007
Save the people's Post Offices in West Dunbartonshire