SNP MP pledges to fight post privatisation

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SNP MP for Angus and Postal Affairs Spokesman, Mike Weir, has branded Vince Cable's Postal Services bill "thoroughly bad" which poses a massive threat to the delivery of mail to remote areas and local post offices.

Speaking at the Keep Post Public Rally rally in London, Mr Weir said:

“It is a terrible indictment of Vince Cable that he has produced a bill that goes far further than even Mrs Thatcher or the Dark Lord Mandelson dared to go. He is not only prepared to sell off Royal Mail, he is relaxed about it being bought by one of its major competitors.

“Ministers seem completely unable or unwilling to grasp the fact that Royal Mail cannot be viewed as simply another company to be bought and sold. It is a vital national institution that has a massive social function on which many of our citizens and small business depends.

“The only people who have benefited from the past so called liberalisation of postal services have been big businesses whilst the rest of us have had restricted services and higher prices.

“This is a thoroughly bad bill which poses a real threat to the continuation of the universal service obligation that is so important to many areas, and to local post offices.

“The bill is full of holes and ministers seem to be simply crossing their fingers and hoping that Post Office Limited will survive on its own. There is absolutely nothing in the bill that guarantees a
continuing business relationship between the two companies.

“There is no such thing as sentiment in big business, only the bottom line matters. Does anyone really believe that a fully privatised Royal Mail will be willing to keep the social obligations going? It is only a matter of time before they seek relaxations, abolition or a public subsidy – leaving the taxpayer with the worst of both worlds.

“The SNP believe firmly that our postal services should remain in public ownership and we will continue to fight this bill.”