Early Day Motion EDM 428 ROYAL MAIL- 184 SIGNATURES

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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+ McIsaac, Shona

[Big Daz]

http://www.shonamcisaac.com/hands-off-the-mail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

THE ROYAL MAIL SHOULDN'T BE PRIVATISED. That's the view of Shona McIsaac, who has joined other MPs in supporting a House of Commons motion calling for the Government to rethink its controversial plans to sell off part of the Royal Mail.

Commenting, Shona said:

'The other day, I was going through some old papers and came across a bag full of leaflets, stickers and balloons that postal workers produced to fight Tory plans to privatise the post office.

'I can remember handing out those leaflets and giving out balloons. So strong was the sense of outrage among the public that we won the campaign and the Tories backed down.

'So it breaks my heart that a Labour Government are suggesting that bringing in private operators to run parts of our universal postal service is the answer the problems faced by Royal Mail - such as paying pensions to postal workers.

'I also feel that, given the current economic climate, the Government are going to struggle to find a private firm with the finance and capacity to address the issues faced by Royal Mail.

'My advice to ministers is to say that they haven't received a decent bid and then scrap the plans.'

The motion that Shona has supported reads:

That this House notes that the Labour Party Conference 2008, with the backing of Ministers, supported a vision of a wholly publicly-owned, integrated Royal Mail Group; welcomes the conclusion of the Hooper Report that the current universal service obligation offered by Royal Mail, including six days a week delivery, must be protected and that the primary duty of a new regulator should be to maintain it; further welcomes the recommendations in the Report that the Government should take responsibility for the pensions deficit which followed an extended contributions holiday; endorses the call for a new relationship between management and postal unions and welcomes the commitment of the Communication Workers Union to negotiate an agreement which would support the modernisation of the industry; observes that in 2007 the Government agreed to a £1.2 billion loan facility on commercial terms to modernise Royal Mail operations; rejects the recommendation of the Hooper Report to sell a minority stake in Royal Mail which would risk fracturing one of Britain's greatest public services; further notes that the Government is currently advertising for a new Chair of Royal Mail; and urges the Secretary of State to appoint a Chair and management team who are committed to the principles of a modern public enterprise.

[johnnyp]

Whats taken her so long to get on board?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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[baldrick]

Why has Peter Hain removed his name after the campaign has achieved its objective?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Why has Peter Hain removed his name after the campaign has achieved its objective?

He is now the Welsh Secretary and is therefore in the Cabinet - apparently Parliamentary convention means that the Cabinet and Shadow cabinet don't sign back bench EDMs.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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[TrueBlueTerrier]

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