18 October 2006 saw thousands of subpostmasters and their customers gather in London to call on the Government to take action to safeguard the future of the post office network.

Four million petition signatures – the largest domestic petition ever delivered to a Prime Minister – were delivered to 10 Downing Street, urging the Government to take action to safeguard the network; while General Secretary Colin Baker and National President Sally Reeves attended meetings with the Prime Minister and Leaders of the main Opposition parties to discuss subpostmasters’ concerns.

Hundreds of MPs held meetings with subpostmasters and concerned members of the public throughout the day, while the threat to post offices was raised during Prime Minister’s Questions. The challenges being faced by subpostmasters and the urgent need for the Government to reach a decision on the future of the network couldn’t have had a higher profile, running as the lead story in the media throughout the day.

Earlier on, the rally witnessed stirring speeches from Federation representatives and from the chair and secretary of the All Party Group for Sub Post Offices, Kate Hoey MP and Owen Paterson MP. The Post Office Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP spoke for the Government, alongside Charles Hendry MP and Edward Davey MP for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Strong endorsements for the NFSP campaign were received from speakers from organisations including Women’s Institute, Help the Aged, RNIB, Age Concern, National Pensioners Convention, Townswomens Guild, Citizens Advice, National Consumer Council, UNITE and the postal services watchdog Postwatch.

The NFSP wishes to thank all members and supporters of the network who attended the events yesterday and made it such a resounding success. We have delivered our message loud and clear – we now look to the Government to start providing us with some answers.