TWO local MPs have pledged to fight to retain local post offices.
Labour MPs Kali Mountford and Barry Sheerman have united to reassure the public on the future of post offices.
The move follows a claim that Kirklees could lose many post offices, with 30 out of 83 thought to be vulnerable.
The latest round of closures comes after many local post offices have been shut in recent years.
Branches in Primrose Hill, Berry Brow, Taylor Hill, Rawthorpe, Greenside, Hillhouse, Crosland Moor, Lowerhouses and Rastrick are among those that have already been closed.
Ms Mountford, MP for Colne Valley, joined Labour councillors and supporters at Huddersfield's main Post Office in Northumberland Street.
She said: "The current Department of Trade review is looking at the distribution of post offices based on only partial criteria.
"I and Barry Sheerman have already arranged to meet Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling about this issue.
"I do not doubt that the review will protect our area and we will ensure that is so."
Mr Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield, said he wanted to reassure local people. He added: "Ministers have gone on record to say there is no `one size fits all' approach to reviewing the network.
"Post offices will be maintained in rural or vulnerable communities, where they fulfil a key social and economic role in combatting financial and social exclusion."
Clr Mehboob Khan, leader of the Labour group on Kirklees, said: "The figures used by a Conservative councillor about post offices were a hypothetical `worst possible' scenario, based on a very crude analysis of criteria.
"The Government has advised not to use this method because it will take much more account of social need in extra criteria - yet to be published - to protect rural and urban post offices.
"For example, estimates based on Government policy on walking distance to local services have been applied by the same council analyst and show only four post offices may be questioned".
At the last meeting of Kirklees Council all parties agreed on a joint approach to the review, including an agreement on the criteria to be used.
"What we don't want to happen is a party political misuse of the review to frighten electors in order to gain votes, rather than a sensible, unified, cross-party approach to get the best for everyone in Kirklees," said Clr Khan.
"I do hope parties don't get silly with petitions and the like as an electoral gimmick, but instead concentrate on what we are here for, being the voice of the people," he added.
