POLITICIANS and union bosses have condemned moves to close tax offices in Bradford and Shipley leading to nearly 2,000 job losses to the district.

HM Revenue & Customs announced yesterday that its accounts office in Victoria Street, Shipley, will close in 2019/20, its office at No 1 Interchange, Bradford, will also close in 2019/20, and its office at Centenary Court, Bradford, will close in 2020/21.

A total of 924 full-time staff work at the Shipley office, 632 at Centenary Court, and 358 at No1 Interchange.

The HMRC wants jobs to transfer the jobs to a regional centre in Leeds by 2019/20 but last night it was revealed that Bradford Council is seeking talks to try to persuade it to locate that centre in Bradford.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's cabinet member for education, skills and culture, said: "I'm very annoyed about this Government announcement.

"We're asking for a meeting as soon as possible about the tax offices' future relocation plans.

"There are extremely good sites available in the Bradford district and we'll be pushing for them to consider these as part of any new public sector development.

"There are more than 2,000 people employed across the two sites and I'd like to see these staying within the district.

"The Government needs to understand the economic and social impact of the decisions they make down in London.

"This latest news shows yet again that either they are out of touch or don't care."

Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies said he will also lobby for the regional centre to be located in the Bradford district.

"I'm very sorry that the tax office in Shipley is due to close. It is an important part of the local economy," he said.

"It's more important to protect people's jobs than buildings.

"I'm not happy they are relocating jobs to Leeds.

"I think they should be retained in the Bradford district, which must be cheaper for the tax payer.

"I will try to do what I can to work to to persuade the HMRC that the building should be in the Bradford district rather than Leeds."

Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah also criticised the HMRC's decision to pick Leeds for the centre.

She said: "I'm very disappointed by this announcement.

"I have asked for a meeting with Ministers to understand how they have arrived at that decision.

"I don't think its a good idea to relocate everything into Leeds.

"I'm disappointed that once again a decision has been made without any consultation with the communities in Bradford.

"This is a classic example of Whitehall not understanding local communities."

Meanwhile, Paul Tillyer, branch secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), described the move as a "massive snub" to Bradford.

The HMRC, meanwhile, justified the decision by saying it was the next step in its ten-year modernisation programme, adding it was committing to high-quality jobs" and the creation of a new regional office in Leeds by 2019/20.

But MrTillyer said: "This is a major blow for Bradford and Shipley.

"The announcement follows the dismantling of the local tax office network.

"The decision to relocate makes no economic sense and seems to fly in the face of HMRC commitments to reduce staff travel and increase access to housing and schools.

"This is a massive snub to Bradford and smacks of a decision based on the convenience and status of senior civil servants rather than the needs of the majority of staff and our customers.

"Staff have had to cope with ever increasing workloads and constant change.

"HMRC is currently failing because it has had too much change over too short a timescale coupled with massive job losses.

"At a time when investment is starting to come to Bradford and Shipley the sensible approach would be to have a split regional hub based in Bradford and Leeds.

"The PCS will be subjecting these plans to rigorous scrutiny, urging major consultation and parliamentary oversight."

One worker leaving the secure HMRC site in Shipley said staff had been ordered to remain silent regarding the proposed closure and move.

"We've been told not to discuss anything with anybody and especially not to say anything or give any information out on Facebook, Twitter or any social media," said the office worker, who asked not to be named.

"It's a real shock, although there have been rumours for a few months.

"Leeds seems to be the place where everybody in Yorkshire needs to be based.

"It will suit me as although I've worked here for three years, I actually live in Headingley."

HMRC, however, said the move was the next step in its ten-year modernisation programme, adding it was committing to high-quality jobs" and the creation of a new regional office in Leeds by 2019/20.

It said its workforce in the region was spread over 13 offices, many of which range in size from about 900 people to fewer than ten.

It will be closing 12 offices across Yorkshire and the Humber between 2016/17 and 2020/21, with four offices shutting in Leeds and others in Harrogate, Grimsby, Hull, Sheffield and York.

Lin Homer, HMRC's chief executive, said: "HMRC is committed to modern, regional centres serving every region and nation in the UK, with skilled and varied jobs and development opportunities, while also ensuring jobs are spread throughout the UK and not concentrated in the capital.

"HMRC has too many expensive, isolated and outdated offices.

"This makes it difficult for us to collaborate, modernise our ways of working, and make the changes we need to transform our service to customers and clamp down further on the minority who try to cheat the system.

"The new regional centre in Leeds will bring our staff together in a more modern and cost-effective building in an area with lower rent. It will also make a big contribution to the economy of the region, providing high-quality, skilled jobs and supporting the Government’s commitment to a national recovery that benefits all parts of the UK."