Lib Dems must apologise over Royal Mail sell-off

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Scottish National Party MSP Mike MacKenzie has called on the Liberal Democrats to apologise over the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Royal Mail has recently made a submission to Ofcom calling for an early review of the workings of competition in postal services and the threat to the universal service. Despite strong opposition in Scotland, the Liberal Democrats voted with the Tories in favour of the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Commenting, Highlands and Islands MSP Mike MacKenzie said:

“The Liberal Democrats have a lot to answer for, and they especially owe an apology to Scotland’s rural communities.

“The call for an early Ofcom review highlights exactly why the Scottish National Party were opposed to the privatisation of Royal Mail. All of this was entirely predictable.

“Competitors are cherry picking easy, profitable urban routes. This undermines the ability of Royal Mail, the only company obliged to do so, to deliver the universal service obligation. We made it abundantly clear that privatisation posed a real threat to the future of the universal service obligation, which is of huge importance to large areas of Scotland. The Tories and Lib Dems dismissed this claiming the service was safe and now Royal Mail themselves are saying the service is in danger and urgent action is needed.

“Royal Mail should never have been privatised. Figures showed 77 per cent of Scots were totally opposed - more than any other part of the UK.

“Only a Yes vote in September can ensure that Scotland will be assured of a mail service that meets the needs of our communities – and one which is brought back into public ownership."