MANDELSON LEFT WITH EGG ON HIS FACE.

MANDELSON LEFT WITH EGG ON HIS FACE.

MANDELSON'S MAIL MOVES OVERSHADOW BROWN ON FIRST DAY OF SCOTS LABOUR CONFERENCE.

MANDELSON LEFT WITH EGG ON HIS FACE.

SNP Postal Affairs spokesperson Mike Weir MP has seized on remarks at Labour’s Dundee conference by Dave Watson, chair of Scottish Labour, attacking Lord Mandelson’s part-privatisation plans for Royal Mail. According to television news reports Dave Watson said that what Lord Mandelson was pushing though was not in the Labour manifesto and that the Royal Mail should not be for sale.
Mr Weir said:
“Dave Watson’s condemnation leaves Lord Mandelson with egg on his face and has overshadowed the first day of Labour's Scottish conference and Gordon Brown's speech.“Labour are split from top to bottom on Royal Mail privatisation, and the simmering anger over Peter Mandelson’s plan seems to be consuming Labour’s conference as the main talking point.
“The scope of Lord Mandelson’s legislation goes far beyond allowing a 30% private stake, and in reality would allow almost 50% of Royal Mail to be sold-off without further legislation.
“The Conservatives will be rubbing their hands while Labour backbenchers and the unions are livid.
“Lord Mandelson’s plans would spell the beginning of the end for Royal Mail, and open the door to job losses, service cuts and a deterioration in the working conditions of postal workers.
“A private partner will only be concerned with profit, and Royal Mail must not loose the social focus which is essential for rural areas.”