2011 - The year to keep post public

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.snp.org/node/17582" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SNP Postal Affairs Spokesman, Mike Weir MP, has praised the postal services workers who went the extra mile over the festive period to make sure presents and cards were delivered in time for Christmas and said the record level of mail sent over the festive period was a reminder of the importance of a public post service.

Mr Weir, who sits on the Postal Services Bill committee at Westminster, called on the UK Government to reverse their plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail and commit to keeping the postal service public in 2011.

Commenting, Mr Weir said:

"The festive period is an annual reminder of how our communities depend on Royal Mail. While it would be easy to dismiss the importance of the service in the digital age, the massive volume of packages and letters sent over Christmas show how vital it is - especially to remote and rural communities.

"When the big online retailers stop delivering, the Royal Mail carried. Would this happen if the Mail was privatised? I doubt it.

“It is a terrible indictment of Vince Cable that he has produced a bill that goes far further than even Mrs Thatcher or the 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.

“The Postal Services Bill is badly flawed and 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 SNP will oppose this bill and any measure to sell off the Royal Mail. In 2011, the Tory Government must step back from these plans and commit to keeping the post public."

[barbario]

Look,the only thing that matters to the Government is the money they will make and from the sale of Royl Mail, and thats it.

[andy2007]

Sadly, I think you're right. Except for one thing: They're also concerned about being found out, as being the cause of the problems. If they can make it look like it's our fault, and they're trying to help. It improves their chances of getting voted back in, in a few years.