So much for what we all suspected - 'consultation'

Those who share the Observer's grave doubts about the validity of contemporary "public consultation" exercises in general and that currently being conducted by the Post Office in particular will not be greatly surprised that '“ in one instance at least '“ sub-post office closure is a fait accompli.

The community in general '“ cynics and those who retaining a touching faith in the veracity of corporate bodies alike '“ have London Road sub-postmaster Ismet Khoyratee to thank for his courage in blowing the whistle on Post Office practices.

Our MP had to persevere in his questioning to winkle the admission out of the Post Office chief executive that closures were even being contemplated. Gregory Barker has now launched a campaign to use the public consultation process to oppose closures.

But Mr Khoyratee's disclosure makes it clear that the MP's well-intentioned action on behalf of constituents will be to little avail.

The sheer effrontery of the Post Office's chicanery defies belief.

To set a date for closure while the public consultation process is under way is bad enough but to compel a sub-postmaster to sign a letter of confidentiality prohibiting them from revealing the truth '“ that a decision has already been made '“ gives the whole issue a Kafkaesque quality.

The MP has vowed to expose the whole affair in Parliament. We sincerely hope that politicians, irrespective of party, take serious note of what is happening. We believe it is an erosion of the principles by which essential institutions such as the Post Office have traditionally been judged in this country.

Coming so soon after the BBC was caught manipulating the results of phone-in programmes, it is an indicator of a worrying decline in standards.