Keep the Post Public Campaign: Early Day Motions (EDM)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 1155/10
Ref:
Date: 24 December 2010



To All Branches

Dear Colleagues

Keep the Post Public Campaign: Early Day Motions (EDM)

Following the success of our national Keep the Post Public rally on 15th December 2010, a number of Early Day Motions have been submitted both at Westminster and in the Scottish Parliament.

The first Early Day Motion, submitted by SNP MP Mike Wier and (CWU supported) Labour MP Katy Clarke reads as follows:

That this House congratulates Royal Mail employees in their sterling efforts to keep mail deliveries going in Scotland despite the recent atrocious weather; contrasts this with the decision of several private delivery services to abandon all attempts to deliver in Scotland; believes that this demonstrates the difference between Royal Mail's social obligations under universal service and the attitude of private operators; and calls upon the Government to abandon plans to privatise Royal Mail or, at the very least, to state that no company which has shown itself unwilling to continue deliveries in these circumstances would be considered as a purchaser or partner of Royal Mail.

The second Westminster Early Day Motion has been submitted by Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester. This follows on from the front page story in last week’s Mail on Sunday about the possible removal of the Monarch’s head from postage stamps. It reads as follows:

That this House calls on the Government to introduce legislation to make it a legal requirement that the profile of the reigning monarch must feature on all UK postage stamps regardless of the future ownership of the Royal Mail, and make it a further requirement that the reigning monarch approves the design of all postage stamps.

In the Scottish Parliament, Green Party MSP Patrick Harvie has submitted an Early Day Motion in the following terms:

That the Parliament offers its strong support to the Communication Workers Union in its protest against the UK Government’s planned Postal Services Bill, which would privatise approximately 90% of Royal Mail; agrees with the Communication Workers Union that this legislation would mean the end of a trusted and vital public institution, that there would be unacceptable price increases and that it would lead to the closure of yet more essential community post offices, and calls on the UK Government to learn what are seen as the lessons of failed privatisation drives of the past, such as the UK rail network, and to properly prioritise and fully fund Royal Mail and the Post Office as a national public service of the first order.
Taken together, the Early Day Motions show the range of support that our campaign has both across a range of issues and political parties.

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to the General Secretary’s department.

Yours sincerely,

W. Hayes Dave Ward
General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal)