Alarm at Royal Mail control concessions

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SNP Postal Affairs spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, has expressed alarm at UK government plans to cede control over the appointment of a new Royal Mail chief executive and other key operational matters to any minority private shareholder.

Mr Weir said the situation underlined how privatisation would spell the beginning of the end for Royal Mail, opening the door to job losses, service cuts and a deterioration in the working conditions of postal workers.

Mr Weir said:

“It is beyond belief that UK Ministers are willing to cede control on key appointments and operational matters to a minority private shareholder.


“This absolutely confirms the worst fears that privatisation would spell the beginning of the end for Royal Mail. A private partner will only be concerned with profit, and the UK government are opening the door to job losses, service cuts and a deterioration in the working conditions of postal workers.

“Instead of making concessions to calm the rebellion on his own backbenches Gordon Brown is bending over backwards to bring in a private partner. The prime minister is on a collision course with his own party, and this latest admission will merely fan the flames of revolt.

“Privatisation of the Royal Mail could not happen at a worse time. When people all over Scotland are facing redundancy and fearing for their jobs, the last thing they want is the Postal Service put in the grip of private partner whose only concern would be to make a profit.

“Royal Mail must remain in public hands and the SNP will continue to fight for the retention of the publicly-owned Royal Mail. It is not just Labour backbenchers who can vote against Brown on this, but voters in the upcoming European elections too.”