HERE WE GO AGAIN!

The news that the Labour in Wales Government (in Cardiff) made no representations to Westminster opposing the privatisation of Royal Mail will surprise any observers our inert government in the Bay. A Freedom of Information disclosure to Plaid has revealed that the Labour Government in Cardiff did not participate in the campaign to oppose the sell-off.

Our Post Office: Sold on the cheap?

A letter received by Plaid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in Whitehall states: “I can confirm that the Department has not received representations from the Welsh Government about the privatisation of Royal Mail.” While Plaid Cymru actively sort to develop a Welsh way forward to keep postal services in public hands, but Labour in the Bay could not be bothered to send a single email or a letter on this important issue.

On yet another issue of importance to the Welsh people Labour have simply sat on their hands while public opinion rallied to support of public ownership and to support of the postal workers.  Whether we are talking about chasing extra funding for our country as a result of the proposed HS2 development, belated support for our farmers, the lack of interest in value for money in relation to public transport investment, or missed opportunities for additional EU funding for Wales.  A recognisable if not well established pattern has emerged, with the Labour in Wales Government talking the talk, but actually doing nothing practical to back up the rhetoric.

This week, the American bank JP Morgan valued Royal Mail at between £7.75 billion pounds and £9.95 billion pounds, the top figure being three times the flotation figure of £3.3 billion pounds. Citibank suggested an upper valuation figure of £7.3 billion pounds and Deutsche Bank argued that Royal Mail could be worth something between £6.4 billion pounds and £6.9 billion pounds.

The Coalition Westminster Government floated the company on a share price of 330 pence. In barely a week, shares had broken the 500p mark – an increase of more than 50% – valuing the company at £1.7bn higher than the original Government estimate and losing the taxpayer £900m. This, if nothing else suggests that the Con Dem Coalition Government in Westminster sold of the Post Office on the cheap.

SAVING OUR POST OFFICE

I should be in Aberystwyth but instead am still trying to fight of 'man flu' not very successfully (such is life) what with the winter we have been having (so far) its not really a surprise. Despite the worst of the weather the Posties in Newport were hard at it, despite the weather (and the thick frozen fallen snow).

Our postal services workers more than went the extra mile over the Christmas and the New Year to make sure presents and cards were delivered (I had double postal deliveries on more than a few days). Despite the terrible weather and the record level of mail sent, their huge effort was a reminder of the importance of a public post service. it's worth noting that when many of the big on-line retailers stopped delivering, the Royal Mail carried on.

Makes you wonder that would happen if the Mail was privatised I wonder? We cannot and should not simply view the Royal Mail as yet another asset to be sold off cheaply - no doubt making a few a fat windfall in the process - as happened with many of the other utilities that were sold off cheaply by the Tories in the 1980's and the 1990's to the lasting benefit of their chums in the City.

The Post Office is an important (if not vital) national institution that provides a massive social function on which many of our citizens and small business depend. We must oppose any Con Dem plans to sell off the Royal Mail. The Tories and their Lib Dem little helpers must step back from these plans and commit to keeping the postal service public in 2011.