Madam,

UKIP’s Neil Hamilton, at the launch of his party’s Welsh Assembly Election manifesto, put the threat of closure of Aberystwyth Crown Post Office “entirely down to EU anti-competition rules” (Cambrian News, 21 April). Mr Hamilton has hijacked the Save Aberystwyth Post Office campaign as a platform to promote his party’s anti-European stance and in doing so shows the utmost disrespect to the Aberystwyth community, thousands of whom support the campaign and have signed the Save Aberystwyth Post Office petition. The potential franchise and closure of the last Crown Post Office in a 140-mile area is a a result of the current Conservative Government’s policy of nationwide closures and privatisations of post offices. Our elected political representatives and members of political parties in Ceredigion; Labour, Lib Dems, Plaid and Greens, have all committed 100 per cent to working together and supporting the community in trying to prevent the loss of this vital service to the town. UKIP, however, have shown little to no interest in the campaign until last week when they used the Save Aberystwyth Post Office campaign to blatantly pro-mote their own interests. To add insult to injury, Mr Hamilton has got his EU facts wrong. Anti-competi-tive behaviour which may affect trade within the UK is specifically prohibited by Chapters I and II of the UK’s own legislation under the Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002. Where anti-competitive behaviour extends beyond the UK to other EU Member States, it is prohibited by Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The EU anti-competition rules referred to by Mr Hamilton actually apply to EU imports and exports rather than to the UK post office service.

Yours etc

Dinah Mulholland

Ceredigion Labour press and campaigns

on behalf of Save Aberystwyth Post Office Campaign and Ceredigion People’s Assembly