BROWN ‘OVER A BARREL’ ON ROYAL MAIL PRIVATISATION.

BROWN ‘OVER A BARREL’ ON ROYAL MAIL PRIVATISATION.

Pressure is mounting on the prime minister to back down on controversial proposals to part-privatise Royal Mail following reports today (Sunday) that up to 120 Labour MPs — half of the backbench party — are set to sign a letter this week demanding Gordon Brown reconsider his plans.

The petition comes as Conservative leader David Cameron says he would also vote to defeat the part-privatisation plans if the prime minister attempted to water down the proposals with concessions to buy-off Labour rebels. Commenting on the developments, SNP Postal Affairs spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, said: “Gordon Brown is completely over a barrel on the future of Royal Mail. “Between mounting pressure from his own backbench rebels and now the privatisation obsessed conservatives threat to vote against any watered down plan, this is now a confidence issue for the prime minister. “Frankly, I am not interested in Gordon Brown’s future, it is the future of Royal Mail that is important. If they have any sense at all Downing Street will ditch these foolish plans. “Privatisation 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. “The 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 to be put it the hands 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.”