Liberal Democrat Shadow Rural Affairs, Tim Farron has called on the government to use part - nationalisation of the banking system to help save local post offices. 

Mr. Farron said that one of the financial institutions the government has taken a stake in should help ensure the Post Office Card Account stays with the Royal Mail network. 

Mr. Farron has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons urging the Treasury to instruct one of the newly nationalised banks to run the card account, in partnership with Post Office Ltd.

Mr Farron first raised this solution earlier this year at the time that Northern Rock was nationalised. He said: 

“The reality is that without the customers who use the Post Office for the card account, many branches will be forced to close.  

“The financial crisis could unexpectedly have left us with an opportunity to save our vital local post offices – the government must grasp that opportunity. 

“We now have state-owned banks, it is surely within the power of the Treasury to instruct one of them to run the POCA in partnership with Post Office Ltd and give the tax payer something back for their money.”