Privatising mail to 'kill post offices'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/edit ... -1.1078249" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The UK Government’s plans to part privatise Royal Mail will kill off the national Post Office service, Scottish opposition politicians have claimed.

Labour said the proposals would put unsustainable pressure on post offices and the Greens said Government claims there was no programme of Post Office closures was a “sham”.

But a senior LibDem accused the Communications Workers’ Union of “making mischief” after it said more post office closures were likely because of the new Postal Services Bill.

As reported in yesterday’s Evening Times, the union claimed the network is “in a precarious position financially” and that sub-postmasters were quitting the business and not being replaced. Nearly 20 post offices in Glasgow and west Scotland face being sold or axed.

Westminster’s Select Committee on Scottish Affairs has visited various areas, including Glasgow, in recent weeks hearing evidence about the effect of the plans.

Labour MP Gregg McClymont, a member of the committee, said: “Of the 12,000 post offices, 8000 are not commercially viable and effectively subsidised by the Government through Royal Mail.

“The idea that a privatised Royal Mail would continue that is laughable. A private Royal Mail would bear down and put unsustainable pressure on post offices.”

Glasgow MSP Patrick Harvie, of the Green Party, said: “It is a sham to say there is no programme of post office closures. By splitting Royal Mail from Post Office services the Government is hiving off the most profitable part of the postal service for the private sector and leaving what remains to wither.

“It is, in effect, a closure programme.”

But LibDem MP Malcolm Bruce, said: “The CWU is just making mischief. We recognise the vital importance of post offices. That is why we have scrapped Labour’s planned post office closure programme.

“The UK Government will seek to support the Post Office network in its efforts to diversify.”

[TrueBlueTerrier]

But LibDem MP Malcolm Bruce, said: “The CWU is just making mischief. We recognise the vital importance of post offices. That is why we have scrapped Labour’s planned post office closure programme"

Lie or slip of the tongue - they stopped nothing the closure programme was over before the General Election IIRC.

[andy2007]

Most likley a lie. He's an MP after all.