Time to stop Royal Mail privatisation - SNP NEWS

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.snp.org/node/14860" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The SNP have today told Labour it must drop plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail. SNP MP and spokesman on postal services Mike Weir today called for Lord Mandelson’s plan to part-privatise Royal Mail to be ditched as Labour’s backbench rebellion grew. Mr Weir, MP for Angus, said “The Labour party is split from top to bottom over Lord Mandelson’s privatisation plans. “SNP MPs have been opposed to these plans from the outset. The Royal Mail is a public service and should be kept that way. “Downing Street need to listen to the anger and concern coming from their own MPs and ditch plans to privatise Royal Mail. “We have witnessed the damage done to the Post Office by Labour’s closure plan - we cannot afford to put the rest of our postal service in private hands. “Labour government are throwing away jobs for the sake of bringing a private company – currently competing with Royal Mail – into partnership - where is the sense in that. “Whether Labour MPs are waking up to their constituents concerns, the threat to their seats or to the threat of another union to walk away from the Labour party it is time they told Mandelson exactly what to do with his privatisation plans.”

[Yahoorsur]

As i have said before,i'm a former Labour Party member of 23 years,some of my political life was taken up,with campaigning against the SNP,because I believed then as I still believe now,that I have more in common with working class folk from South of the Border,folk like Tommymac,Johno47,BigDaz,Postman,JohnnyP,TBT,linkinpark and yes..you too Tman ,than I do with the political elite of the SNP,I love Scotland and I want it to decide it's own destiny,still I feel British,but when I see that some SNP policies are more in tune with my basic political views than Blu Labour, I get so fecking torn.I dont think that I will ever vote for Nu-Labour again,But i still want the UK to exist,
I have a lot of thinking to do,I hate the Brigadoon tartan shortbread view,my national dress was the dockyard jacket and steel toe capped boots,not the kilt .
but when a political party,abolish the bridge tolls,hospital parking charges and promote a social democratic view thats very attractive ,it's hard to say no.

[prowler]

As i have said before,i'm a former Labour Party member of 23 years,some of my political life was taken up,with campaigning against the SNP,because I believed then as I still believe now,that I have more in common with working class folk from South of the Border,folk like Tommymac,Johno47,BigDaz,Postman,JohnnyP,TBT,linkinpark and yes..you too Tman ,than I do with the political elite of the SNP,I love Scotland and I want it to decide it's own destiny,still I feel British,but when I see that some SNP policies are more in tune with my basic political views than Blu Labour, I get so fecking torn.I dont think that I will ever vote for Nu-Labour again,But i still want the UK to exist,
I have a lot of thinking to do,I hate the Brigadoon tartan shortbread view,my national dress was the dockyard jacket and steel toe capped boots,not the kilt .
but when a political party,abolish the bridge tolls,hospital parking charges and promote a social democratic view thats very attractive ,it's hard to say no.

As they say, ' smell the coffee'.Nu Labour are traitors to their own cause, I used to be a member of the Liebor party but no more. Just look at the Wendy Alexander fiasco - it wisnae me! The SNP have done more for Scotland than Liebor has in 20 years. I'll never vote for Liebor again.

[Bouncing Souls]

I'm in a bit of dilema here, My own Labour MP has backed the EDM against Privatisation, has done quite a bit for the area he serves, came down to picket lines when we were out on strike etc etc, but his bosses....i just can't vote for them anymore, they make me sick!

on the other hand i don't trust Alex Salmond, never have, never will, the party has some decent policies though, although they are currently trying to sell off 25% of Scotlands forest to private investors which i don't agree with

[drb]

Makes Me think......Perhaps we in the south have "lost touch".

[andy2007]

I'm in a bit of dilema here, My own Labour MP has backed the EDM against Privatisation, has done quite a bit for the area he serves, came down to picket lines when we were out on strike etc etc, but his bosses....i just can't vote for them anymore, they make me sick!

on the other hand i don't trust Alex Salmond, never have, never will, the party has some decent policies though, although they are currently trying to sell off 25% of Scotlands forest to private investors which i don't agree with

Why would it cause you a dilema?
Isn't the best way to change something, from the inside?
If you have found an MP, who is willing to fight for what's right. Then why not support him?

[brothermagrew]

As i have said before,i'm a former Labour Party member of 23 years,some of my political life was taken up,with campaigning against the SNP,because I believed then as I still believe now,that I have more in common with working class folk from South of the Border,folk like Tommymac,Johno47,BigDaz,Postman,JohnnyP,TBT,linkinpark and yes..you too Tman ,than I do with the political elite of the SNP,I love Scotland and I want it to decide it's own destiny,still I feel British,but when I see that some SNP policies are more in tune with my basic political views than Blu Labour, I get so fecking torn.I dont think that I will ever vote for Nu-Labour again,But i still want the UK to exist,
I have a lot of thinking to do,I hate the Brigadoon tartan shortbread view,my national dress was the dockyard jacket and steel toe capped boots,not the kilt .
but when a political party,abolish the bridge tolls,hospital parking charges and promote a social democratic view thats very attractive ,it's hard to say no.

As I have said before I'm a card carrying member of the SNP for the last 20+yrs & I to love my country & I to have more in common with you & the guys you mentioned than the First Minister (although I've been in his company socially & he is an all right bloke)
I have the upmost respect for my MP Michael Connarty he is a very hard working MP.
but what I want is for our country to be given the chance to run our own affairs,we surely cannae make it any worse.

When I joined the party it was full of haggis& shortbreed type folk -but as some has already said you work from within to change what needs to be changed .Back in 79 Kenny MacAskill's left wing views brought fresh air into the party ,this when I realised this was the way to go & have worked hard to try to achieve this.
My aim is to get the nats more left of centre & we certainly more on the left than Labour are.

The policy changes the SNP brought in reducing prescription charges,abolish the bridge tolls,hospital parking charges & freezing council tax
for 2 yrs running are all very popular - Broon & the LP need to listen to the people of the UK before its too late coz the alternative will be
GOD forbid a return to the Thatcher years

"but what I want is for our country to be given the chance to run our own affairs,we surely cannae make it any worse".

And in which I am becoming more convinced in during the passing months and years. As a Scot and former member of the Labour Party in Scotland in which I have become totally peed off with. The time may hopefully fast approach when our country or nation has the democratic right to decide once and for all on whether we want total Independence.

As things stand see below:

The Scottish Parliament Powers:
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Economic development
Education
Environment
Food standards
Health
Home Affairs
Law - Courts, Police, Fire Services
Local government
Sport and the Arts
Transport
Training
Tourism
Research and statistics
Social work

Westminster's Retained Powers
Abortion
Broadcasting policy
Civil service
Common markets for UK goods and services
Constitution
Electricity, coal, oil, gas, nuclear energy
Defence and national security
Drug policy
Employment
Foreign policy and relations with Europe
Most aspects of transport safety and regulation
National lottery
Protection of borders
Social security
Stability of UK's fiscal, economic and monetary system


Links with London:
The secretary of state for Scotland will continue to represent Scottish interests within the UK Government and Scotland's MPs will still have a part to play at Westminster although the number of seats they occupy will be reviewed.

There is a view that in time, as the Scottish Parliament beds in, Westminster's profile in Scottish politics will reduce even though it will still have an important influence over Scotland in strategic areas such as defence and fiscal matters.

The potential for conflict between the two will, however, remain.

The main divisions of responsibilities are illustrated above and there will be arrangements, yet to be finalised, for resolving disagreements about whether or not legislation falls within Holyrood's power.

The level to which any bickering reaches will depend largely on who is in control of the Scottish Parliament and who is running Westminster. If it is the same party, the likelihood is that the staking out of political boundaries will be relatively amicable (on the surface at least). The chances of disagreement increase if the parties are different.

[ar26]

I'm not affilated with any political party but have always voted SNP. Why - I believe that politicians need to be closer to home and in some ways as well as independance we need far smaller councils etc to make them more accountable to us the people. The things the SNP have introduced so far as someone else mentioned is far more than any other party has done for Scotland in the last 40 years. I believe that England too could benefit from some sort of devolved power as well. Whilst we all may be British at the moment I am a Scot first and foremost and after a letter from the Scottish First Minister re possible privatisation I believe that our future lies within our own hands rather than that of Westminster. A Scottish Post Office I feel would be far more customer focused than our current bosses. We are a public service which whilst we should strive to make money for the country it should not be the only goal. Labour no longer seems to be the working mans friend.