Mary Reid

There ... that's something I never dreamt I would write!

As Business Secretary he has at last suggested that the Government should look on post offices as social necessities, and should use them to provide more government services not fewer.

Key to this has to be the Post Office Card Account - the account used by many people who do not have bank accounts. This contract has been put up for tender with no guarantee that it will be awarded to Post Office Limited. If it isn't, then we can say goodbye to many more post offices across the country.

Mandelson, bless his socks, said the government would "back" the Post Office's attempts to broaden the services it offered.  "It has a unique brand and a relationship with millions of customers.  It could be doing better in securing its future if we reflect further and widen the activities they taken on."

He's not fireproof, as we all know, but it's good to see him challenging the Government's lack of initiative in ensuring a future for this vital service.