Plaid Cymru leader unveils 'Welsh way forward' for postal se

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Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has intervened in the row over Royal Mail privatisation by unveiling a “Welsh way forward” that would see the UK Government surrender its Welsh postal interests to Wales.

Ms Wood says a legal precedent exists for such a move and cited the 1969 Post Office Act, which removed postal services from government departmental responsibility to a public corporation and made provision to surrender postal services to the governments of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

The Plaid leader has written to UK Business Secretary Vince Cable urging him to revive the precedent and make provision for the surrender of Royal Mail in Wales to the Welsh Government.

Ms Wood said: “The privatisation of the Royal Mail is a step even Mrs Thatcher wouldn’t take and it’s disappointing to see a Lib Dem minister rushing this through. Plaid Cymru offers a practical solution how we in Wales can be empowered to follow our own path, in accordance with our values.

“A new Post Cymru service would be run in the interests of our communities, ensuring that the universal, six days service is maintained. One of the great dangers of this privatisation is that the needs of communities will be jeopardised as profits and shareholder interests take priority.

“The Party of Wales is on the side of public opinion and I urge the UK Liberal Democrat Business Secretary to respect the context of devolution that now exists and to allow each nation to decide on the future of what is effectively a vital part of our country’s infrastructure.”

Plaid will be launching an online petition – Post Cymru – Post i Gymru / Deliver for Wales – and Ms Wood said she would aim to co-ordinate cross-party talks at the National Assembly to see if agreement can be reached on progressing a Post Cymru public postal service for Wales.

Ms Wood said: “We envisage an arms-length relationship between Post Cymru and the Welsh Government, the board of which would be accountable to the Welsh Government and its social mission and community obligations will be enshrined in an Act of the Assembly.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We do not support the privatisation of the Royal Mail and would be concerned if communities in Wales were adversely affected by its new owners’ drive to make profits, particularly if people’s jobs were put at risk. We will continue to engage with the Royal Mail to make our concerns known.”

A Department for Business spokesman said: “Wales benefits from the six days a week universal postal service that goes beyond the EU minimum requirements and is a cornerstone of the UK economy. Our reforms of the postal sector – including a sale of shares which will give Royal Mail future access to private capital – will ensure that Royal Mail has a sustainable future."