POLL UNDERLINES JOBS CONCERNS ABOUT ROYAL MAIL PRIVATISATION.

POLL UNDERLINES JOBS CONCERNS ABOUT ROYAL MAIL PRIVATISATION.
BROWN ‘OVER A BARREL’ ON CONTROVERSIAL PLAN

SNP Postal Affairs spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, has welcomed a poll showing almost seventy per cent opposition to controversial proposals to part-privatise Royal Mail and the threat it poses to jobs in the service. Those surveyed in Scotland were even more against the plan with 73 per cent against privatisation. The UK-wide poll heaps further pressure on the prime minister to back down on part-privatisation plans as some Labour MPs are set to sign a letter this week demanding Gordon Brown reconsider the move. Meanwhile, the Tories have indicated that they will also vote to defeat the part-privatisation plans if Gordon Brown attempts to water down the proposals with concessions. Mr Weir said: “After a week that has shown Westminster to be completely out of touch, Gordon Brown must not ignore this poll which shows the public are overwhelmingly against privatisation of Royal Mail and the threat it poses to jobs. “Between mounting pressure from his own backbench, and now the privatisation obsessed Tories' threat to vote against any watered down plan, Gordon Brown is completely over a barrel. “It is the future of Royal Mail and the jobs of postal workers that are crucial, not Gordon Brown’s political survival. Downing Street must see sense and 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.”