Is this the End For Saturdays.

[Eric Cantona]

Postal deliveries on Saturdays could be scrapped under the controversial ConDem plans to sell the Royal Mail.

Business Secretary Vince Cable would allow the company to offer a five-day service, with laws for the privatisation expected to be brought in next month.

He has pledged to keep universal pricing so the cost of a letter will be the same anywhere in the UK.

But sources close to the Government say they can offer "no guarantee" a six-day service will stay.

Furious unions last night warned the loss of the Saturday post would lead to job losses.

Billy Hayes, of the Communication Workers Union, said: "This is the first cut in services of many that privatisation will bring. A drive for profit will take away the public service ethos supported by postal workers and enjoyed by customers for 170 years."

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He added: "The immediate attack on Saturday service is the surest sign yet that privatisation of postal services is not in the interests of the UK public. People don't want their post to be sold off and the Government must stop this ideologically driven plan."

Labour leadership contender Ed Balls said privatising the Royal Mail would be "bad news for millions of people who rely on the postal service". He also said he doubts the ConDems will keep their promise to retain the universal pricing scheme.

Mr Cable says competition from the internet and a desperate need for costly modernisation mean privatisation is the only way to keep the Royal Mail safe.

He has said privately the national treasure could fold without outside investment. In a bid to get the Bill through, he is also offering posties the chance to own some shares.

As part of the sell-off, the Treasury would take on the Royal Mail's pension fund debts, estimated at between £8billion and £10billion.



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