By 2010, the Labour Government will have closed the British Forces Post Office centres at 10 British bases throughout Europe, including Portugal, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Gibraltar and parts of Germany. This will mean that service families will have to pay the full postage to contact their loved ones in the armed services. It also means that services that require a UK address, especially banks, will not be available to personnel based near the closed offices. Press reports suggest that the closures will save just £1.7 million a year.

A Scottish Soldier writes a letter [© Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

Commenting about the closures, Westminster candidate for Edinburgh South Fred Mackintosh said: "In a time of war the withdrawal of these postal services encourages the belief that Government is more interested in small cash savings than the needs of our service people around the world. I have signed the petition I hope many more residents of South Edinburgh will do so and that the Government will back down.”

The Liberal Democrats believe that these closures are simply not acceptable. The Government must stop its neglectful treatment of the men and women of our armed services. If you would like help the Lib Dems and urge Prime Minister Gordon Brown to re-think the closure plans, please sign the petition which can be found at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveBFPO.