I will vote against Royal Mail privatisation, says Jarrow MP

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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It is a mystery in pure political terms why the Government ever decided to flog part of the Royal Mail off.

Did it not realise how much that would upset its own MPs and wider party? Even Nick Brown has called for people to come forward with alternatives, while several Parliamentary aides - including local MPs Dave Anderson and Sharon Hodgson - have publicly stated their oppositon

Things at the Royal Mail must be pretty bad for Business Secretary Lord Mandy to even consider such drastic action. And indeed a multi-billion pound deficit in its pension pot is widely acknowledged to be a problem.

But Stephen Hepburn, Labour MP for Jarrow, has just confirmed he will vote against the part-privatisation if it the Government pushes ahead with its plans.

He said the "fantastic" Royal Mail should be kept in public hands because it was a public service like the NHS.

And while it had "massive problems, he added: "I don't think that introducing the private sector is the best option. I think other options must be explored. I have told them I will vote against it."

Mr Hepburn welcomed moves to enshrine the universal post service and keep it as an overall public body, but warned: "I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bath water."

[BELIAL]

Maybe someone could remind Mr Hepburn of the causes of these "massive problems". Not too hard to work out that if you fail to pay into a pension scheme for 13years there might be a wee shortfall in funding; subsidising the 'competitions ' profits by doing their work for them at less than cost price is hardly going to boost the balance sheet. Appointing a couple of hare brained big stick corporate bully boys has done 0 for moral and looks to be backfiring big time in terms of productivity.