Petition to stop privatisation of Royal Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thecomet.net/content/comet/n ... 3A43%3A190" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CAMPAIGNERS against the Government's plans to part privatise the Royal Mail are giving Comet country residents the chance to have their say.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will be in Stevenage town centre tomorrow (Saturday), asking people to register their opposition to the Government's plans to sell off 30 per cent of Royal Mail to a foreign postal administration.

Steve Butts, a spokesman for the CWU, said: "A recent poll has indicated that 80 per cent of the public are against this plan.

"Currently over 140 MPs have signed a motion that opposes the Government plan. "Interestingly, Barbara Follett, MP for Stevenage, is not one of them, even though it is part of the Labour Party manifesto that Royal Mail should remain a wholly publically-owned organisation - a pledge on which this Government was elected."

Mrs Follett said: "Royal Mail is faced with very real problems that threaten its existence and the service it provides. That is why the Government is committed to acting now to ensure it can provide a world class service for years to come.

"As Minister for Culture, the Creative Industries and Tourism and Minister for the East of England, I cannot sign the motion against them.

"That said, my position does allow me to raise this matter with my colleagues who are responsible and that is why I have already written to the Minister of State for Employment and Postal Affairs, Mr Pat McFadden MP, to tell him about the concerns my constituents have."

The union's stall will be set up outside the former Woolworths store in Town Square from 10am until 4pm.

[axeman]

mrs folly ''' a case of look after no 1 then and fcuk the voters !!

[Big Daz]

"even though it is part of the Labour Party manifesto that Royal Mail should remain a wholly publically-owned organisation - a pledge on which this Government was elected."


Sorry that is incorrect, the 2005 manifesto did not contain the word wholly.

That became offical policy of the Labour party at their annual conference in 2008 three years later!!!! The government is under no legal obligations to follow the policies of their party which is something we have seen with council housing. The LP can change policy as much as it likes but if the Labour government was not elected on that policy and they dont agree with it then its very unlikley to become government policy.

The CWU came up with wholly 4 years too late!!! We should have got that word in the 2005 manifesto.

Yes wholly owned is Labour party offical policy since autumn 2008 but it certainly wasnt the policy Labour were elected on in 2005. If they had of been elected on that policy then the government would have a vastly reduced amount of wiggle room.

There is absolutley nothing in the 2005 manifesto to say what % of RM would be publicly owned, which is what the government use as their get out clause!