She and Sir Michael Spicer MP have been campaigning for months against the cuts, sending in petitions, written objections and letters from constituents. They have attended public meetings in the communities affected.
Harriett Baldwin said: "I wrote a series of detailed letters to Mr. Mark Partington listing a wide range of objections to closures at all four Post Offices - Hanley Castle, Link Top, Poolbrook and Rushwick. The least I would expect is a reply from him acknowledging these points and answering them. However, I have received a long letter that has spewed out of a computer and has been signed by Martina Moore, Agency Correspondence Team. It is addressed "Dear Harriett Baldwin". It acknowledges my letters about Rushwick, Link Top and Poolbrook, but there is no mention of Hanley Castle. It concludes with the words "I would, therefore, like to thank you for the time taken to consider our proposals and provide us with your observations, which have been registered into the local consultation for full consideration as part of the decision process." I am deeply sceptical that my carefully written letters, full of specific points raised by members of the public, have truly been read, let alone given "full consideration". This Post Office closure programme has been rushed. It is ill-considered and it represents short term thinking on the part of the government."