Measurement or spying?

I've just seen this story on the BBC about how the UK post office has been condemned for carrying out a spot of communication measurement.

Am I jet-lagged and fuzzy-headed, or is it a bit of an over-reaction to describe using mystery shoppers to check whether customers are getting accurate information about why their local post office is closing as "spying", "sick", and like using "the tactics of the secret police to demand Maoist conformity to their line"? 

All the more so that it's coming from a political party who, I'm sure, would never do anything as terrible as - shock, horror - media training their politicians to use consistent key messages.

Am I missing the point here?

Sue

Comments

[Liam]

I'm not sure this is entirely fair - I never thought the day would come when I defended the Conservatives!!!!

My reading of the issue is that the Post Office has written to these guys who run local Post Offices and said in effect

"...we are considering closing branches and putting you out of work/business but we expect you to put a brave face on it to your customers in the local community you serve. We'll be checking up on you to make sure you don't start moaning about us and if we do catch you out you're in deep trouble..."

I think it's legitimate to expect your staff to toe the official line, but as that domestic goddess Marge Simpson says... "You catch more bees with honey..."

Liam