Abandon plan for Royal Mail say Greens

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/new ... 4913573.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Published Date: 27 January 2009

PLANS to part-privatise Royal Mail should be abandoned, say Green councillors in Sheffield.

The Government is controversially considering selling 25 to 33 per cent of Royal Mail to a foreign buyer.

That goes against Labour's national manifesto commitment to a "publicly-owned Royal Mail" and it is estimated up to 100 MPs would take part in a backbench rebellion if the current plans went to a vote.

The Communications Workers Union has also said it would disaffiliate from the Labour Party if the privatisation goes ahead.

Sheffield Green Party says recent deregulation of the postal service has only benefited big business and not the public or small businesses.

Coun Bernard Little said: "We strongly oppose any privatisation of Royal Mail. The Green Party has long campaigned against transferring essential public services to private hands. The Royal Mail is a cherished and trusted national institution and even Margaret Thatcher thought it should remain publicly owned.

"A report by Postwatch, the consumer watchdog, has failed to find any significant benefits to individual users from the 'liberalisation' of the postal service.

"To call for the part-privatisation of a major British institution is clearly madness. The likely substantial local job losses are the last thing our struggling economy needs at the moment."

Labour's Parliamentary candidate for Sheffield Central, Paul Blomfield, said there needs to be a full debate about the role Post Offices can have.

"I want new options to strengthen the Post Office such as taking on more banking and financial services to be seriously considered.

"The big banks have let everyone down, so why not let this trusted community institution take on a greater banking role?"

The Greens are calling for the issue to be debated at the next full council meeting.

[bogstandard]

well missed by the reporter the debate was part privatistion of RM, the labour mp moved on to the post office which, according to the report was to remain wholey oe=wned by the government.