Emma Wakefield The Politics Show South East

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Many Post Offices face closure

Many small post offices across the South East could face closure following the Government's recent announcement to axe its �1bn contract in support of the Post Office Card Account.

The Dept of Work and Pensions launched the account in 2003 and by September 2004 were claiming it a great success with nearly 4m pensioners signed up.

However the current seven year deal to operate it runs out in 2010 and the DWP have said that paying claimants by card account is now too expensive.

201 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion that calls on the Government to halt new pilot schemes immediately and instigate an immediate review of the DWP's plans.

We see how the changes could affect the people in one village in Kent.

Shopping for votes

Thousands of voters in the May 2006 local elections will be able to cast their ballot in supermarkets or post offices as part of a pilot scheme launched by the Lord Chancellor's Office.

The scheme will be piloted in a number of metropolitan areas in May 2006.

Could this be a solution to maintaining small local post offices in rural areas?

Rant of the week

Tony Lane from East Grinstead on why local democracy doesn't always represent public opinion.

Paper review

Leo Whitlock, Editor of the Kentish Express newspaper will be taking a look at the political news from around the region.

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The Politics Show South East

Join Paul Siegert on the Politics Show on Sunday 26 February 2006 at 11.55am on BBC One.

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