Labour grovells at the feet of the EU

THOUSANDS of rural post offices were saved from closure yesterday when European regulators approved £150 million a year in government aid for the Royal Mail's retail arm.

Post Office Ltd (POL) will now be granted the money to fund country branches, which include more than 1,000 in Scotland, for the next two years.

The decision by the European Commission will come as a huge relief to rural communities after Adam Crozier, chief executive of the Royal Mail warned that more than 10,000 post offices across Britain could close within the next four years.

The government requires POL to keep rural counters open, even if they are loss-making, to give local communities access to essential services such as income support and postal operations.

But ministers had to persuade Brussels that the extension of the funding did not represent unfair state aid.

Neelie Kroes, the EU Competition Commissioner, said: "I am satisfied that the funding is proportionate to POL's public services obligation.

This is rediculous. Why should our government have to ask the EU if we can keep the post office running. Its our money we should spend it on what we want. The government should not have to go grovelling to the EU to ask if we can fun our own things.

We should get out of the EU now. Elect a none traitorous government as soon as possible and leave.