Margaret Moran MP
Labour MP for Luton South

Following the announced closure of the Post Office’s High Town Branch the concerned MP Margaret Moran for Luton South has been campaigning against the decision taken by the Network Change Programme of the Post Office.

The Post Office is threatening to close five of its branches in Luton in the face of opposition from locals and Luton Borough Council.

Margaret Moran MP is also strongly against the planned closures and will continue to campaign for her constituents.

Ms Moran has stated that:

“The planned closure of five Post Offices in Luton is totally unacceptable and I am very concerned about the impact this will have on locals in Luton. I will do all I can to communicate to the Post Office the stern opposition to these closures of all who are affected by their decision and I urge the people of Luton to speak out and sign the petition.”

Please fill in the online petition against the planned closures in Luton

Margaret Moran is concerned about the launch of a teddy bear-shaped mobile phone aimed at four year old children. According to the manufacturers of the Teddyfone, it would help parents keep track of their children’s whereabouts.. Yet 25% of seven to 10-year-olds now own a mobile phone which doubles the levels in 2001.

Psychologist Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg, who is an expert on adolescent behaviour, has expressed deep reservations about parents who allow children to take mobile phones to bed with them and let them text friends late at night. He states that almost 1.6 million children are allowed mobiles in their room at night and 40% of such children were sleep-deprived on school nights, leading to a generation of overtired “zombies”.

Margaret Moran says: “I am very concerned about the over-use of mobile phones by young children. The findings of Dr Carr-Gregg’s report demonstrate the potential health risks involved as well as the ill effects on concentration levels at school. I am against this Teddyfone for four year olds which seems to me to be another gimmick for companies to sell more phones.”

To follow up the 10 Minute Rule Bill on Alcohol Misuse and Pricing, which Margaret sponsored earlier in the year, Sally Keeble MP has recently launched an online consultation for the public to tie into the Government’s upcoming Mandatory code on Alcohol Sales.

Get involved in the consultation at ukmandatoryalcoholcode.org.uk

The results will feed into the Governments code and help influence the debate about what should, and should not be included.

I was first elected as MP for Luton South in May 1997. I want to express my gratitude to the people of Luton in general and my constituents in particular for allowing me over the past 12 years to represent them in public life. I have put all my energies and commitment into being their champion and advocate.

The understandable public anger over the issue of MP’s expenses has caused me great stress and has seriously worsened my existing health problem.

It is with great sadness that I have today informed the General Secretary of the Labour Party following discussion with my family that I intend to stand down as a MP for Luton South at the next general election. This will give my Labour Party colleagues an opportunity to select a new candidate to put forward at the next election.

However, it is very important that I set out clearly that I make absolutely clear that I have done nothing wrong or dishonest in relation to my claim for expenses and have at all times acted on advice from the House of Commons Fees Office in relation to my family home in Southampton.

The House of Commons Fees Office gave me incorrect advice upon which I acted. They have now apologised and I quote precisely from their letter dated 27th May 2009 as follows:

“Documents show that you asked this office in August 2007 and again in September 2008 for confirmation that it would be in order for you to change your arrangements, from 1st April 2008, and nominate Luton as your main home and Southampton as your second (ACA) home. You were told that this would be acceptable.”

The letter goes on to say,

“I can confirm that the advice you were given at the time was wrong…”

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is responsible for ensuring that any breach of the rules is properly investigated. I have already made certain that I have referred my case to him for a full and proper investigation with which I will cooperate fully. I do not therefore propose to make any further comments at this time.

It has been a privilege to serve the residents of Luton South, however I will work as hard as I can for my constituents until I step down as an MP at the next general election, but the understandable anger in the media and amongst the public over the issue of Parliamentary expenses has had a bruising effect upon my friends, my family and my health and it is for this reason that I have decided to stand down.