A POLITICIAN is collecting signatures against controversial post office closures.

The Government wants to shut 2,500 branches to stem losses of £500,000 a day.

But Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Dewsbury Kevin Hollinrake has started a petition against the plan.

He has taken to the streets of the constituency to gather signatures.

Mr Hollinrake said: “Virtually everyone supports our action.

“All the Government’s arguments on these closures are based on financial grounds, but we believe that the postal service is just that – a service – and one that is vital for many people in our local communities, most of all the elderly.”

Mr Hollinrake criticised Dewsbury Labour MP Shahid Malik for not backing a Conservative move to suspend the closure programme.

He said: “It is just another example of the way that in one breath he claims to work for his constituents and in another pursues his own agenda.

“I am sure that Gordon Brown is putting him under enormous pressure to support the Government on this issue but other Labour MPs, such as Mike Wood of Batley and Spen, voted against the closures.

“It is time Mr Malik put the people of Dewsbury first.”