New Post Office minister is former opponent of privatisation

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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The minister appointed to oversee the Post Office is a former opponent of privatisation. Conservatives claim this is a sign that the Government is cooling on reform.

Lord Young of Norwood Green, who was appointed to the Business Department with responsibility for postal affairs, is a former union baron in the Communication Workers’ Union, leading the opposition to the part-privatisation of the Royal Mail.

The department denied that this was an indication that the Government was retreating on privatisation. But the Tories said that the appointment of Lord Young raised serious questions about the Government’s commitment to reforming Royal Mail.

Jonathan Djanogly, the Tory business spokesman, said: “The appointment of a former leader of the CWU as Postal Affairs Minister raises serious questions about the Government’s commitment to reforming Royal Mail.With a growing pensions deficit and falling mail volumes, ministers should be accelerating reform of Royal Mail, not reversing it.

“Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson must confirm their commitment to implementing the reforms which Royal Mail so desperately needs.”

Lord Mandelson has hinted that the Government’s plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail are to be put on hold pending an increase in the price bidders are willing are to pay. However this is yet to be formally confirmed.

Lord Young was Deputy General Secretary of the Communication Workers’ Union from 1998 to 2002. The union has threatened to disaffiliate from the Labour Party if the proposals are implemented and called Lord Mandelson’s policies “foolish and dumb-headed”.

[Martin Walsh]

Tony Young former Joint general secretary of the CWU along with Alan Johnson. Now that could be intresting his background was on the BT side of the union.

This could be good for us on the other hand Tony Young was part of the review into the firemans strike a few years ago and was heavy critcised within the trade union movement including the cwu for his part in the review.