Tom Harris and the people of Pollokshaws are waiting to find out whether their efforts to save the local post office have been successful.

The Glasgow South MP organised a local public meeting and gathered signatures on a petition after it was revealed the local branch was being targeted for closure.

Tom said: “The Post Office closure programme has caused a lot of unhappiness in this and every other constituency in the country.

Tom and Councillor Stephen Curran launch the petition with local 'Shaws residents

“The aim is for 2500 branches throughout the UK to close in a ‘rationalisation’ of the network. Unfortunately, this means that when a branch that has been marked for closure is reprieved following local representation, the target of 2500 remains in place, and a branch somewhere else has to be closed instead. It’s known as the ‘one in, one out’ policy.

“So when I was told that four Post Office branches in Glasgow South – Muirend, Carmunnock, Croftfoot and Pollokshields – were to close, I thought that was bad enough.

“But then I was told that, following a decision to keep two Post Offices in the West End open, the Pollokshaws branch would now be considered for closure. Pollokshaws had not been part of the closure programme until then.”

Tom added: “Lest I be accused of hypocrisy, I want to make it clear that I accept that there has to be a restructuring of the Post Office’s national network. And I accept that branches have to close as a result.

“But I believe that branches’ viability should be judged on their own performance – not on whether a branch in another part of the country has been saved.”