Lib Dems brag about privatising us

[goinpostal]

Royal Mail privatisation – another Lib Dem policy delivered
By Iain Roberts | Published 12th September 2010 - 12:04 pm
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Among the Stricty Come Dancing banter on Twitter yesterday evening, I picked up some Labour activists attacking the Lib Dems. Nothing new there, you might think.

The attack was that the Lib Dems had betrayed our principles, done a u-turn and were privitising the Post Office.

I think we’re all familiar enough with Labour attacks by now to check those facts before jumping to any conclusions. And it turns out that the attack is wrong in every single respect.

The Government is not proposing to privatise the Post Office. And what’s being proposed, far from being a u-turn, is Lib Dem policy. It was in our manifesto and now we’re delivering on it.

Here’s what the Lib Dem manifesto says on the subject

Give both Royal Mail and post offices a long-term future, by separating Post Office Ltd from the Royal Mail and retaining Post Office Ltd in full public ownership. 49 per cent of Royal Mail will be sold to create funds for investment. The ownership of the other 51 per cent will be divided between an employee trust and the government.

So the proposal was to split the two, retain Post Office Ltd and privatise Royal Mail (with under 50% remaining in government ownership).

As Cable has said, the plan has modified slightly following further reports on the Royal Mail:

Outside investors will hold the most shares, and the rest will be offered to Royal Mail staff. Pension liabilities will be taken on by the government.

There is, of course, a very good reason for this Lib Dem policy.

Unlike previous Labour and Conservative governments, the Lib Dems do not want to preside over the closure of hundreds and thousands of local Post Office branches. Keeping the Post Office in public ownership is important.

But Royal Mail – the delivery service – is struggling with falling volumes of mail and competing against leaner private delivery companies. In the current economic climate, there’s little chance of the Royal Mail being able to raise money from the public purse to allow it to compete effectively. This move will allow it to raise the funds privately, and it won’t be crippled with pension liabilities either as the Government is proposing to retain those.

Not that this will stop Labour shouting “u-turn” and “betrayal” at every turn.

[fishtank]

U-TURN......BETRAYAL.........TOSSERS

Well feck me....they were right...apart from tossers...you didn't see that one coming.

[POSTMAN]

As Cable has said, the plan has modified slightly following further reports on the Royal Mail:
Outside investors will hold the most shares, and the rest will be offered to Royal Mail staff. Pension liabilities will be taken on by the government.

So the proposal was to split the two, retain Post Office Ltd and privatise Royal Mail (with under 50% remaining in government ownership).

f***ing fool...

"We are not proposing to keep a government stake. Royal Mail will become privately owned and there will be a share for the workers within that company," Cable told BBC Radio 4's PM.

That's one muvver f****r of a slight modify!

[POSTMAN]

Ha we've a new game on RMC,spot the difference,there's one in the ed bollox thread,here's another one...

[andy2007]

Nah, you've got me! They both look like Gonzo.

[goinpostal]

the "nice" Lib dems have picked up spindoctoring in no time at all! Just goes to show, it was a bosses party through and through all along.

[Judgee]

One's a muppet... the other ones Gonzo!

[subbie]

Unlike previous Labour and Conservative governments, the Lib Dems do not want to preside over the closure of hundreds and thousands of local Post Office branches. Keeping the Post Office in public ownership is important.

Ha!

This is where the Lib Dem plan falls down. Cos they have not realised that POL is well and truly broken, something radical has to change if HM Gov are serious about keeping the Network under public ownership, the Network is losing PO's now (with a little help from POL) (catch em if you can) nowt will change by separating POL, except that the Brit Tax pater will have to stump up greater subsidy.

Subbie