Lord Mandelson attacks postal workers
After the embarrassment of having to rein in the proposed sale of the UK Royal Mail, Lord Mandelson today issued a stinging attack on postal workers who are threatening to strike. This is an issue which has split the Labour Party in two because while many people believe there is a need for significant reorganisation within the Royal Nail, the government appears to be riding roughshod over everybody and everything in its way.
Despite warnings from within the Labour Party about the process, which would have seen a significant chunk of the profitable business sold off to an overseas partner, the government had initially planned to push ahead. While the government is suggesting that UK taxpayers have had enough in relation to funding the Royal Mail, and require a better return, it is difficult to understand this argument of taxpayer value against plans to sell off the profitable part of the business, and leave UK taxpayers to fund a substantial pension fund deficit.
One minute the UK government is looking to invest into the Royal Mail network and then ultimately the business is being primed for a partial takeover, which would have seen yet another overseas partner enter the UK and take an influential role in a prominent corporation. Over the years we have seen the electricity companies sold off to overseas parents, the water company sold off to overseas parents and now stand on the verge of seeing part of the Royal mail sold off to overseas counterparts. Where will it all end?
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