Royal Mail sale dangerous - Labour claims

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... s-1.122963" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Labour has launched a campaign against the Government's controversial plan to privatise the Royal Mail, branding the move "dangerous".

The party leadership is throwing its weight behind growing opposition to the sell-off.

Royal Mail managers this week voted strongly against privatisation, while the Communication Workers Union is threatening to ballot its members for a strike unless there is a deal on pay, pensions, jobs and other issues linked to the sell-off.

Labour MPs will stress that the public and businesses rely on a daily delivery service and will warn that places where it is expensive or complicated to deliver the post every day - like rural areas or blocks of flats - could be "vulnerable" if privatisation goes ahead.

The party is also warning that many customers might have to travel miles to pick up large parcels as a privatised Royal Mail could choose to sell off its assets such as local delivery offices.

A Labour source said: "We all rely on the Royal Mail - from receiving that parcel we've ordered online to knowing that birthday card we've sent is going to arrive in time - but some of us rely on it in different ways.

"In rural areas the local post office acts as a focal point for communities and there are many pensioners across the country who are reassured by seeing their regular postie every morning. There are also the small businesses that use the Royal Mail for ensuring customers get their goods and services on time, efficiently, reliably and at a reasonable price.

"Which is why the Tory-led Government's plans for privatising Royal Mail are so dangerous.

"Like so many of this Government's plans, these haven't been thought through properly. They want to sell off Royal Mail on the cheap in order to plug a financial hole in the British economy caused by George Osborne's failed policies as Chancellor."

Labour believes privatisation could have "enormous consequences" for those who rely on the postal service and accuses the Government of being unwilling or unable to say what they will be.

Privatising Royal Mail could mean that profit comes before the needs of communities, Labour warned.

Local post offices rely on the Royal Mail for much of their business and many of them could be under threat if privatisation goes ahead as they look to slash costs, while organisations up and down the country have warned of higher prices and a lesser service, Labour warned.

The source added: "David Cameron doesn't need to do this. The Royal Mail made a £400 million profit last year but there's a real risk that this money will go to private shareholders instead of being invested back into the service."

[Danelectro]

So is this all mouth and no trousers or is there a chance that in the debate in parliament on the Royal mail sell off that Labour may drop a bombshell to threaten to reverse or change the conditions of the sale if they formed or partly formed the next government?

They have been criticised for having no policy or direction over the last month or so and have lost ground in all the polls so what better place to start than having a clear policy on the future of Royal mail which to me is a vote spinner.

[ronpetetrevchris]

So is this all mouth and no trousers or is there a chance that in the debate in parliament on the Royal mail sell off that Labour may drop a bombshell to threaten to reverse or change the conditions of the sale if they formed or partly formed the next government?

They have been criticised for having no policy or direction over the last month or so and have lost ground in all the polls so what better place to start than having a clear policy on the future of Royal mail which to me is a vote spinner.

What? A weak party with no direction growing a pair and standing up for the origins of its party, this is politics, I wouldn't hold my breath.

[cloherty1976]

That would be a good policy for labour but just a pointer were would the money come from to buy it back? They have history in spending money they have not got.

[Brain Fury]

Their position might carry an ounce of credibility if the privatisation of RM were not a direct result of actions by New Labour under Tony Blair, if they hadn't tried to sell the business themselves, hadn't enacted the regulatory regime that effectively bankrupted the business and they could propose a credible alternative. I suspect they couldn't give a s**t about Royal Mail.

[Danelectro]

That would be a good policy for labour but just a pointer were would the money come from to buy it back? They have history in spending money they have not got.

It depends on the courage of their convictions,if they as many believe that Royal mails is a driver for local economy' and essential for small business then its not just the case of what the cost of any retrospective change to the conditions of the sale are.Its from this sort of perspective that any policy should be costed.

You make the obvious point about Labour spending money they dont have,i donr know if you noticed but thats not changed under this government and they have borrowed more than they planned which offsets any claims to have reduced the deficit by the amount they claim.

also the tories have history privatising natural monopolies and the results are their for all to see.

[Brain Fury]

[

also the tories have history privatising natural monopolies and the results are their for all to see.

Agreed but RM doesn't have a monopoly any more. Would you expect Labour to reintroduce it and if so on what products?

[Danelectro]

[

also the tories have history privatising natural monopolies and the results are their for all to see.

Agreed but RM doesn't have a monopoly any more. Would you expect Labour to reintroduce it and if so on what products?

your barking up the wrong tree-the uso is the monopoly im talking off and it is overseen by the regulator under an EU directive and these are the areas where change is possible.

[Danelectro]

ronpetetrevchris I agree that if Labour were to make a pledge it would be totally out of character but I would like it to be made known by CWU HQ what any discussions with Labour over these matters are,this is a party we financially support and we deserve to know the details.

[Brain Fury]

[

also the tories have history privatising natural monopolies and the results are their for all to see.

Agreed but RM doesn't have a monopoly any more. Would you expect Labour to reintroduce it and if so on what products?

your barking up the wrong tree-the uso is the monopoly im talking off and it is overseen by the regulator under an EU directive and these are the areas where change is possible.

Thanks for clarifying. I take your point but couldn't the USO be changed irrespective of the ownership of RM?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

[

also the tories have history privatising natural monopolies and the results are their for all to see.

Agreed but RM doesn't have a monopoly any more. Would you expect Labour to reintroduce it and if so on what products?

your barking up the wrong tree-the uso is the monopoly im talking off and it is overseen by the regulator under an EU directive and these are the areas where change is possible.

Thanks for clarifying. I take your point but couldn't the USO be changed irrespective of the ownership of RM?

Politically its harder to change when we are a Government Organisation. Once privatised then it will be politically easier to change especially as Royal Mail or the shareholders (unit trusts, pension funds) will have more access to lobbying groups and more people willing to fund those groups.

[123456]

sorry it wont be popular.......................but labour disgust me.never,ever again......go away and dont darken my door until you...!!!! ah! sod it i cant be arsed..

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I agree - I have never hidden my feeling towards the Labour Party being just a paler version of the Tories. The further the Tories go to the right, they more they drag labour in the same direction. We need clear water between the 2 parties and we haven't got that, just today when someone mentioned Terresa May I had to check to see which party she was from.

[Danelectro]

Politically its harder to change when we are a Government Organisation. Once privatised then it will be politically easier to change especially as Royal Mail or the shareholders (unit trusts, pension funds) will have more access to lobbying groups and more people willing to fund those groups.

This is only true if as you say Labour continue to slip a rizla paper between themselves and the Tories.The point is to change that and yes I know its unlikely but as the 'we own it campaign' point out privatisation of national industries doesnt seem to have worked for the majority of voters so where does it become politically easier other than in the Westminster village.

After privatisation shareholders forming lobbying groups would more likely be putting pressure to downgrade the USO than defend it.