"It now seems certain that ministers have made a decision which will mean the end for yet more of our small post offices, but they're allowing the news to leak out rather than make the proper announcement in Parliament we called for yesterday.
I have repeatedly spoken out in the House of Commons for an end to the dithering on awarding the contract that has plagued post offices, but I am appalled that it seems that a decision has now been made that will damage hugely what remains of the rural post office network.
In my constituency we lost nine post offices in the cuts announced earlier this year. Now we face more closures and it's local communities and vulnerable people who will suffer.
Liberal Democrats in parliament are using one of their allotted days for debate on Monday to discuss the future of post offices, and it's certain that there will be many on all sides who will wish to express their anger at the outcome of the prolonged process."