Plaid MP: reversal of Government plans for Royal Mail is a welcome climb down

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Elfyn Llwyd MP, has responded to Lord Mandelson’s admission that the UK Government will not proceed with legislation to part-privatise the Royal Mail in the near future.

Plaid Cymru MPs have consistently campaigned against privatisation of the Royal Mail as this would threaten the universal service obligation (USO) which ensures that customers in rural areas are not disadvantaged.

Mr Llwyd commented:

“I am very pleased that this plan has stalled. I hope that the Government will now reflect on it and finally dismiss this very bad idea.

“However it has been dressed up, this would have effectively marked the beginning of the end of the Post Office as a public service.

“It was hugely unpopular and unworkable as well. No doubt if it reappears in some other guise, there will be huge opposition again.

“The plan has been shelved because the reality is it would have had a huge amount of difficulty getting through. Failing to get the bill would be an embarrassment for the Government although this is a welcome climb down.

“What it means for Wales is protecting the all important universal service obligation.

This means that people are given the same level of service whether they live ten miles up a mountain or in the middle of a city. Privatisation would have meant the end of that obligation and this would have been exceptionally bad in Wales .”