Latest Press Releases
| MAIL PRIVATISATION PLANS THREAT TO SCOTTISH SERVICES |
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| Monday, 17 January 2011 00:00 |
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BETRAYAL WILL HAUNT TORIES AT HOLYROOD Moray MP Angus Robertson has condemned the passing of Royal Mail privatisation plans and has warned that delivery services as well as the future of local post office branches will be under threat. Mr Robertson and SNP colleagues have been campaigning strongly on Royal Mail and Post Office issues repeatedly, organising public meetings and contributing to parliamentary debates on the issues. The local SNP MP has rounded on Tory and Lib Dem MPs who voted for privatisation of Royal Mail, and vowed to make the future of the postal network a key campaign issue in the coming Scottish Parliament elections. Mr Robertson said: “ This is the wrong decision at the worst possible time, and will put delivery services as well as the future of local post office branches under threat. This is yet another betrayal by Tory MPs which will haunt them at the Holyrood elections. “ Privatisation not only threatens the future of deliveries, jobs and services but also the sustainability of the post office network which has already seen closures here in Moray under the last Labour government. People across Moray have campaigned long and hard for our public Post Office, packing halls to raise their concerns and signing petitions and campaign cards. “ It is inevitable that the pressures from a fully privatised Royal Mail – operated for profit and not public service - will lead to a reduction in the universal service obligation. The impact of cuts will be worst felt by rural communities which have already endured the closure of local amenities. “ The maintenance of a comprehensive mail delivery service is essential for Scotland, especially rural Scotland, and that could best be achieved by keeping the company in public ownership. We have already seen the chaos that has overtaken the Post Office network by the rush to "liberalisation". “ The strong message from the public is that they very much value their postal services and the men and women who work hard to deliver those services come rain or shine. That public service commitment by Royal Mail workers was clearly evident in the horrendous weather of recent weeks. “ Royal Mail should be seen as part of our national infrastructure and should be kept in public ownership. Royal Mail cannot be viewed as just another company. It provides an essential public service, especially to smaller communities and small businesses who do not have access to alternative carriers. “ One after another Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats have all turned their back on Scotland’s postal services. Only the SNP will continue to stand up for them through the painful road to privatisation and the future of postal services will be a key campaign in the coming Holyrood elections.” |
