Otley Town Council row over Royal Mail privatisation

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Otley Town Council has agreed to formally oppose the privatisation of the Royal Mail.

A Labour proposal to put the council’s opposition “on record”, on the grounds privatisation would lead to a poorer service for local residents, was approved amid a bitter row.

Labour says it is simply reflecting public opinion, but opposition Liberal Democrat councillors have accused the group of trying to use council tax money to fund “a political campaign”.

Council leader Councillor John Eveleigh (Lab, Ashfield) said: “This isn’t a politically motivated campaign but one that has broad public support.

“Seventy per cent of people in Britain oppose the privatisation of the Royal Mail, so we want the town council to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the public by resisting this plan.”

But Lib Dem group leader Councillor Jim Spencer (Lib Dem, West Chevin) responded: “We were disappointed that they used their majority to try to push through an inaccurate, politically biased and, in our view, illegal resolution which allows the Communication Workers Union to promote their campaign using council facilities.

“Last year the CWU gave the Labour Party more than £600,000. If they want to run a political campaign they should use some of that rather than Otley’s council tax.”

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