Clarke: Tories 'have met potential Royal Mail bidders'

[POSTMAN]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/ne ... 319900.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The shadow business secretary, Kenneth Clarke, has said that he has held 'private, confidential meetings' with potential bidders for the Royal Mail.

Speaking on the programme as the 48-hour postal strike began, Mr Clarke said that his party wanted to privatise Royal Mail but that he "certainly would not wish to break it up".

Adding that "the current situation is not encouraging any bidders" he said that a Conservative government would "make a fresh start", bringing in private capital and expertise to try "to put this company back on its feet again".

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers' Union, said that it was "quite happy to go to Acas and have a third party look at our record as against what Royal Mail is saying" in order to resolve the current dispute.

Up to 42,000 mail centre staff and network drivers began a 24-hour strike today, while 78,000 delivery and collection workers will walk out tomorrow in a dispute over the modernisation of postal services.

[DGP1]

bringing in private capital and expertise to try "to put this company back on its feet again"

I thought the current management weren't the problem

[norbert]

bringing in private capital and expertise to try "to put this company back on its feet again"

I thought the current management weren't the problem

Where are these " bidders " from ? - some banana republic with a Tinpot Despot in charge , A Middle Eastern Sheikh - hope they don't have their countries usual ' punishments for cutting off etc in mind , East European countries where the Mafia effectively run things - usual form with that shower

[DGP1]

bringing in private capital and expertise to try "to put this company back on its feet again"

I thought the current management weren't the problem

Where are these " bidders " from ? - some banana republic with a Tinpot Despot in charge , A Middle Eastern Sheikh - hope they don't have their countries ' punishments for cutting off etc in mind , East European countries where the Mafia effectively run things - usual form with that shower

BAT they'll have us all smoking again just so they don't have to worry about the pension deficit again

[norbert]

bringing in private capital and expertise to try "to put this company back on its feet again"

I thought the current management weren't the problem

Where are these " bidders " from ? - some banana republic with a Tinpot Despot in charge , A Middle Eastern Sheikh - hope they don't have their countries ' punishments for cutting off etc in mind , East European countries where the Mafia effectively run things - usual form with that shower

BAT they'll have us all smoking again just so they don't have to worry about the pension deficit again

Royal Mail to the Parish Workhouse probably