Billy raises privatisation with David Cameron

[Big Daz]

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Billy raises privatisation with David Cameron
20th December 2010


CWU general secretary Billy Hayes raised Royal Mail privatisation when he joined a delegation of trade union leaders meeting prime minister David Cameron in 10 Downing Street this morning, (Monday).

The meeting, which was the first for 25 years with a Conservative Prime Minister, was lead by Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Brendan Barber, who said: "We made clear to the Prime Minister our strong view that the spending cuts would both be socially divisive and economically dangerous."

Describing the meeting, Billy said: "It opened with deficit mince pies and coffee - the mince pies were tiny, possibly an austerity measure."

The issue of government cuts and job losses was discussed at length, as was the issue of pensions, in particular the change from RPI to CPI index linking. "The government seemed unclear what they were saying on the pensions issue at points", said Billy.

The general secretarty took the opportunity to raise the privatisation of Royal Mail directly with the Prime Minister. "I referred to media concern from the last two days about losing the Queen's head from stamps", says Billy, "and David Cameron said he'd seen the stories. Oliver Letwin responded by saying that there was plenty of time in the legislative process to resolve those issues."

Billy also spoke to the Prime Minister about the problems and uncertainty facing the universal service and post office network in the Postal Services Bill, but met the same answer from the cabinet office minister.

"Towards the end of the meeting, David Cameron suggested that we hold these meetings two or three times a year," said Billy.

Overall, Billy felt the impression given by the Prime Minster was "very polished" through the meeting, which lasted over an hour.

[fishtank]

Billy said: "It opened with deficit mince pies and coffee - the mince pies were tiny, possibly an austerity measure."

He doesn't feckin do himself any favours...does he?

[Broxi51]

Billy said: "It opened with deficit mince pies and coffee - the mince pies were tiny, possibly an austerity measure."

He doesn't feckin do himself any favours...does he?

I hope Brendan, Cameron and the rest didnt mind doing without

[POSTMAN]

Once again Billy................................ .............................and some of you wonder about what's on this site.

[jack straw]

Billy said: "It opened with deficit mince pies and coffee - the mince pies were tiny, possibly an austerity measure."

He doesn't feckin do himself any favours...does he?

Fat, barely literate, idiot, and Hayes is the same!! :dcfo

[clashcityrocker]

Describing the meeting, Billy said: "It opened with deficit mince pies and coffee - the mince pies were tiny, possibly an austerity measure."

But he makes no reference to the size of the cups of coffee, or if refills were available.
Does Cameron have friends in Brazil?

[dvbuk55]

Wow! He really let fly, the media were concerned about losing the Queens head? Yep, this is the guy who is paid £100,000 a year plus perks to represent the CWU members and is defended by union sycophants.

[maisymoo04]

seems like he eatin all the mince pies,bet ye pm said o come on billy not this again about goin private,how many times have we told you fu@@ off scouse

[realmichael]

Wow! He really let fly, the media were concerned about losing the Queens head? Yep, this is the guy who is paid £100,000 a year plus perks to represent the CWU members and is defended by union sycophants.

well said that man

[POSTMAN]

Like Cameron gives a f**k...
Keep the Post Public Campaign - Prime Minister's Question Time, 15th December 2010

As well as the activities organised by the CWU on 15th December, we were very grateful to receive the support of a significant number of MPs, including David Hamilton, Labour MP for Mid Lothian.

David was successful in putting a question to the Prime Minister during PMQs last week on the question of the Universal Service Obligation and how it would fare under the Postal Services Bill.

The Prime Minister was unable or unwilling to respond. David is to be congratulated for exposing so efficiently one of the main inadequacies of the proposed legislation and we have written to thank him for it.

Q7. [30547] Mr David Hamilton (Midlothian) (Lab): The right hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) is right. The situation has been horrendous in Scotland, and indeed in the north of England. The only people who are delivering are those in Royal Mail, as the private companies have offloaded their commitments on to it.
The £20 million invested by Royal Mail is important. Will the Prime Minister give a straight answer to this question? Will he guarantee that universal service, and will he and his friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is sitting next to him, review Royal Mail’s privatisation and step back from it?

The Prime Minister: The whole point of trying to get private capital and management involved in Royal Mail is to make the service better, and to ensure that it can go on doing all the things that we want it to do. Opposition Members—including the Leader of the Opposition—shake their heads, but the fact is that they were going to present plans in the last Parliament, because even they realised that this needs to be done.

[Wessex]

Bit difficult for Labour to argue against that point.

[Big Daz]

Bit difficult for Labour to argue against that point.

Yes and no. Policies are not set in stone for all eternity. Also Labour plans were for a majority stake to be in public ownership so were different to what is currently proposed.

What was clear when Mandy was taking the previous PSB through the House of Lords is that the Labour Government were isolated from the rest of the Labour party structure. Labour MP's by a clear majority were against a partial sell of as were the affilated trade unions. Labour party conference made a very clear policy of 100% public ownership which was subsequently ignored to keep Mandleson happy who wanted to have a go at selling off RM.

What would have happened if the PSB had got to the House of Commons and those within Government who were uneasy to say the least at Mandy's plans were then at the point of having to vote on the PSB is something we will never know.

[dvbuk55]

Bit difficult for Labour to argue against that point.

Yes and no. Policies are not set in stone for all eternity. Also Labour plans were for a majority stake to be in public ownership so were different to what is currently proposed.

What was clear when Mandy was taking the previous PSB through the House of Lords is that the Labour Government were isolated from the rest of the Labour party structure. Labour MP's by a clear majority were against a partial sell of as were the affilated trade unions. Labour party conference made a very clear policy of 100% public ownership which was subsequently ignored to keep Mandleson happy who wanted to have a go at selling off RM.

What would have happened if the PSB had got to the House of Commons and those within Government who were uneasy to say the least at Mandy's plans were then at the point of having to vote on the PSB is something we will never know.

Not that it matters a jot now of course what Labour thinks or does...........the Condems are in the driving seat now.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Billy raises privatisation with David Cameron

sounds like poker, what was Camerons counter offer - Baroncy of Ginsters

[Lounge Lizard]

"Overall, Billy felt the impression given by the Prime Minster was "very polished" through the meeting, which lasted over an hour" although Billy admitted that, given the chance, he could easily have polished off many more pies.