LORD MANDELSON MUST ANSWER QUESTIONS OVER ROYAL MAIL

LORD MANDELSON MUST ANSWER QUESTIONS OVER ROYAL MAIL

The UK government’s handling of the Royal Mail strikes has come under criticism today (Thursday) with SNP Business and Enterprise spokesperson Mike Weir MP calling on Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to answer accusations from the Communication Workers Union that the Minister was working to block a settlement.

Mr Weir said:

“We have a situation where Peter Mandelson is facing accusations of exerting a malign influence while, as usual, Gordon Brown is trying to deny all responsibility for the crisis. The UK Government’s privatisation agenda has brought chaos to our postal service, they are presiding over a deeply damaging dispute, and are now trying to wash their hands of it.

“Lord Mandelson’s position is incomprehensible given the damage being caused by this dispute, and the fact that the UK Government is itself the only shareholder in Royal Mail.

“The whole country wants a solution – for both sides to get round the table and resolve the dispute – but Lord Mandelson and the UK Government are clearly part of the problem. Peter Mandelson has to answer these accusations so that we can get the situation back to an even keel and the dispute resolved as quickly as possible.”