Post Office apology over letter

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The document said anonymous representatives from the company would travel around the country to ensure "key messages" about plans to close 2,500 branches were being given to customers in an "accurate and professional manner".

The organisation has been condemned for the move by the Conservatives, who obtained the letter.

A Post Office Ltd spokesman said the firm had "made very clear that we know this letter contained inaccuracies and did not convey the tone our sub-postmasters would rightly expect.

"We have unequivocally apologised for the letter and will be writing to subpostmasters to make this clear and give them the correct information.

"The Post Office will not be making any anonymous checks on sub-postmasters' use of these materials - this was never planned and the reference in the letter sent to subpostmasters was factually incorrect."

Shadow business, enterprise and regulatory reform secretary Alan Duncan said: "It is shameful that the Government which is closing thousands of post offices should blackmail hard-working sub-postmasters into parroting the political spin of Gordon Brown to customers.

"It is not appropriate in a free country for a national employer like the Post Office to use the tactics of the secret police to demand Maoist conformity to their line.

"Explaining their view is one thing, but to go around spying on their branches and employees is quite sick, and will only make things worse."

The letter, from Sue Huggins, director of the Network Change Programme, warns sub-postmasters whose branches are chosen for closure risk losing compensation packages if they do not comply.