Mandelson’s gift to media baron Rupert Murdoch?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Royal Mail privatisation - Mandelson’s gift to media baron Rupert Murdoch?

http://charliemarks.wordpress.com/2008/ ... t-murdoch/

In 2005 it was reported by the Sydney Morning Herald that:

Rupert Murdoch has linked up with another giant of Australian business, TNT, in its bid to compete with Britain’s state-owned postal service Royal Mail.

Transport and delivery company TNT has entered Britain’s letter market with its TNT Premier service which guarantees delivery in 48 hours and handles one million items a week.

As its service expands and the market opens up, however, TNT and other private mail providers have complained about Royal Mail’s “dirty tricks” and uncompetitive behaviour.

Murdoch’s pay TV network BSkyB is the latest of five major customers to defect from Royal Mail to TNT [...]

BSkyB’s link with TNT strengthens Murdoch’s ties with the company.

TNT trucks are used by Murdoch’s News Limited newspapers in Britain and drove through the picket lines of striking printers in London during industrial disputes in the early 1990s. [Emphasis added]

Today it was announced by Lord Mandelson that the plans set forward in the “independent” Hooper report would be implemented, despite Labour’s manifesto commitment to retain public ownership of postal services.

The only company showing any interest in a possible 25-50% stake in Royal Mail is TNT, a Dutch rival to the publicly-owned postal service.

TNT was the postal company involved in last year’s data loss scandal, in which discs containing the private details of all families claiming child benefits.

Talk about rewarding failure.

RickB points out that Adam Crozier, Royal Mail’s chief executive was given a 26% pay rise last year - which means he’s paid £1.25 million to run postal services into the ground, cut provision, lay off workers, and close sorting and post offices.

But why is an established public service like Royal Mail being forced to “compete” with foreign companies anyway? Whose idea was this?

Well, the EU has issued directives ordering the “liberalisation” of postal services and the UK government was so keen went ahead a year early.

I imagine if Royal Mail is butchered for the benefit of TNT that Rupert Murdoch will be changing his mind about the EU. Not such a threat to him after all, and his papers might become pro-EU and pro-Euro in particular. Just as it’s argued Royal Mail must be destroyed because of economics, Murdoch’s papers might trumpet we must join the Euro?

The FT reports that there will be turmoil in the Labour party as a result of Mandelson’s decision:

the announcement provoked an immediate backlash from the unions and Labour MPs, who saw it as a betrayal of the party’s manifesto commitment to keep Royal Mail publicly owned. The Communication Workers Union, which is already threatening a strike later this week, stressed its “dismay” at the prospect of a move that would “open the floodgates for full-blown, damaging privatisation”.

A string of Labour MPs in the debate on the Commons statement made by Pat McFadden, the business minister, echoed this concern, in a clear signal the prime minister will run into a rebellion over the legislation to allow the partial sale. Gordon Prentice typified the anger, warning he would vote against the measure and attacking the “scandalous” way Royal Mail had been undermined by competition from rivals.

The Conservatives, who stopped short of privatising Royal Mail when they were in power, broadly welcomed the proposals. Edward Leigh, the rightwing Conservative MP, mischievously gave a “welcome [for] new Labour to the Thatcherite wing of the Conservative party”.

The decision by both main opposition parties to back the plans will allow the prime minister to drive the part-privatisation through parliament, in the teeth of opposition from his own party. But the political sensitivities are likely to delay any bill until after a potential spring general election. Mr McFadden told MPs: “We’ll be working up proposals to do this in the weeks and months ahead.” He dismissed backbenchers’ concerns that the move marked a “slippery slope” to full privatisation, saying the party would honour its manifesto commitment. [Emphasis added.]

Note the reference to a general election. Is this a way of buying the support of the Murdoch press for Labour in a snap election next year?

If so, New Labour have possibly lost the votes of thousands of postal workers. Millions of traditional Labour voters who have abandonded the party won’t be tempted to turn out for Brown if he plans to destroy a cherished public institution - and sell it to foreigners.

So much for British jobs for British workers! “British institutions for Australian capitalists” doesn’t have the same ring to it…

The Communications Workers’ Union has responded to the Lord of Darkness:

Billy Hayes, general secretary, said: “It is incredible that the British Government which has lead the world in overhauling banks need another European postal service to rescue the Royal Mail. Especially one which has already been disgraced by losing sensitive data disks in the mail.

“This was meant to be a report about competition but Mandelson has ignored the damage done through irresponsible liberalisation and advocates more involvement by private companies.

“We welcome the move to Ofcom which recognises both changes in the communications sector and the failings of Postcomm to manage the mail market effectively, however we look forward to receiving more information on future regulation.”

Dave Ward, deputy general secretary, said: “There is no need to seek private funding from outside companies in a joint venture. This would open the floodgates for full-blown, damaging privatisation. Post is a key public and business service which must retain the protection and guidance of Government for sustainable success.

“We welcome the fact that our campaign to get the Government to secure Royal Mail workers’ pensions has been successful. The news that the USO has been safeguarded is also very welcome.

“We will be studying the detail of the report closely over the coming weeks and will respond fully in the New Year.”

[Radio]

Eye-opening stuff, indeed. Think before you buy that copy of The Sun tomorrow morning. Murdoch must be the most devious man alive; Mandleson, the most corrupt politician. Murdoch and Mandleson :mfo the killer combination to destroy RM.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Eye-opening stuff, indeed. Think before you buy that copy of The Sun tomorrow morning. Murdoch must be the most devious man alive; Mandleson, the most corrupt politician. Murdoch and Mandleson :mfo the killer combination to destroy RM.

You forget the least powerful member of this particular Triumvirate. Gordon Brown, unelected Prime Minister who does whatever the city says he should, and ignores his core vote. The worst type of Leader we can have - one that doesn't.

[Yahoorsur]

Had a wee trawl through the 'blogosphere' here's Austin Mitchells take on the Royal Mail sellout,sorry sell off

'Mandy's Mail Mess
Written by Austin Mitchell
17 December 2008
Like a dog returning to his own vomit Lord Malfoy has dug up his failed attempt of ten years ago to sell off Royal Mail.

On the basis of an ‘independent’ report by an ideologue who damaged Royal Mail when he was at Postcom by ‘ending the monopoly by bringing in competitors’ on preferential terms. A foreign competitor is to be given a one third stake with which it will be able to advantage its own competing services.



The result will be divided leadership, confused priorities, massive redundancies, and further damage to Royal Mail with the state carrying the costs. All this as the first step to total privatisation.



It has to be opposed. It will be. Peter Hain should lead us



Love that first line,'like a dog returning to his own vomit',no love between those two then?
It seems to me that Austin does'nt like Mandy,he better watch out,he might fall under a bus or something like that

[norbert]

Eye-opening stuff, indeed. Think before you buy that copy of The Sun tomorrow morning. Murdoch must be the most devious man alive; Mandleson, the most corrupt politician. Murdoch and Mandleson :mfo the killer combination to destroy RM.

You forget the least powerful member of this particular Triumvirate. Gordon Brown, unelected Prime Minister who does whatever the city says he should, and ignores his core vote. The worst type of Leader we can have - one that doesn't.

that's a common criticism of Brown amongst MP's - too manipulated by his own cabinet and New Labour's contradictory mixed agendas

they are frightened of the Sun , getting Murdoch onside got them a landslide victory in 97 , they're trying to get Murdoch - sort of pro-europe and they know the Tory Party , though they pretend otherwise are still split on Europe .

New Labour's game has always been to try and neutralize the Tory Vote .