Councillors clash over Royal Mail 'privatisation' plan

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DUMFRIES and Galloway Council is set to ask the UK Government to halt plans to privatise Royal Mail over fears it will lead to more rural post office closures.

A majority of councillors backed a motion by the authority’s Labour group to “keep the Post Office public” at a meeting on Thursday.

But before they narrowly won a vote 18-17 to write to the UK Government, Labour councillors faced criticism over the actions of the previous Labour Government.

Lib Dem councillor Richard Brodie said: “This comes from the party which wielded a deadly axe on hundreds of post offices including rural areas.

“The past Government knew the problem but failed to take any action.”

Conservative councillor John Charteris said: “This motion is the hallmark of a party which is in complete denial.”

The Business Secretary Vince Cable recently announced details of the Postal Services Bill which is designed to pave the way for the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Currently the Post Office is wholly owned by Royal Mail but the two will be separated as a result of the bill.

Labour councillor Jeff Leaver who proposed the motion said those plans will mean cuts to post offices in rural areas.

Labour and SNP members voted for the motion while Lib Dems and Tories voted against it.