Haslingden and Hyndburn MP says Government not listening

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Haslingden and Hyndburn MP says Government not listening to public on Royal Mail

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Business Secretary Vince Cable has stated that he wishes to sell off 90% of the government's shares in Royal Mail as part of the Government's Postal Services Bill.

But Graham Jones, MP for Haslingden and Hyndburn has restated his firm opposition to any change in the postal service's ownership, believing the government's proposals to be economically baseless, harmful to communities, and at odds with the public's feeling.

Mr Jones stated: "Privatisation risks higher prices, reduced wages and poorer conditions. Ultimately it will break both the community connection and the public service ethos. We will be left with a decision making process completely divorced from local communities and unaccountable to its social consequences."

A recent survey by polling organization YouGov showed that most voters do not want to see any form of Royal Mail Privatisation. Particularly opposed are Lib Dem voters, amongst whom only 16% are in favour. Indeed, even amongst Conservative voters a sizeable 48% are opposed to Royal Mail's privatisation. Graham Jones believes the government has misjudged the public's affection for the Royal Mail.

Mr Jones said: "Post Offices play a vital role in our local community. They are a service upon which many depend and if the Government goes ahead with its plans for privatization this could quite frankly be the end of this treasured local institution."

He added: "What we need to be doing is looking to extend the role of the Post Office, not diminish it. Where Post Offices have closed we should be looking into a wide range of measures not only to reopen them but to keep them open."

The Government is attempting to push through the Postal Services Bill in order to raise an estimated £120 million via increased private sector investment. But there are fears that this is going to result in either higher wages or reduced services. Indeed polls show that 72% of people believe that privatisation will result in price hikes.

Mr Jones said: "I do not accept the Government's belief that this is a decision that has to be made. These changes may appeal in the short term, but ultimately something's got to give, and people are going to be left feeling short changed."