Clarke warns Mandelson has left Royal Mail to "slide into decline"

Ken Clarke has attacked Lord Mandelson’s decision not to go ahead with the planned part-privatisation of Royal Mail.

The Shadow Business Secretary said the Government was “in a state of paralysed indecision on every difficult issue” following Lord Mandelson's announcement of the U-turn.

Ken attacked Lord Mandelson’s handling of the issue, stressing:

“Peter Mandelson said recently that the Government was committed to the policy of part-privatisation and that the Royal Mail was in a crisis.”

“He has frequently said that the status quo is not an option. He is now leaving the Royal Mail to slide into more rapid decline.”

Ken added, “The first reason given for delay was lack of Parliamentary time, which is plainly nonsense. It is now said that market conditions are difficult for a sale. The real reason for delay is that Peter Mandelson cannot persuade his colleagues to back the flagship Bill of his Department.”

Clarke shows Tory promises are a lie

Tory heavyweight Ken Clarke has let the cat out of the bag – the Conservatives have no intention of holding a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

He told the BBC's John Soppel today: "If the Irish referendum endorses the Treaty and ratification comes into effect then our settled policy is quite clear, that the Treaty will not be reopened."

UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said: "This statement just goes to show that all the Tory promises during the European Election campaign about holding a referendum can now be seen to be sheer, brass-necked dishonesty.

"If Cameron's Conservatives cannot be trusted not to dissemble on this vital matter, how can anybody trust them on anything else?

"Of course we saw that 60% of those who voted on the June 4 voted against the Treaty, but they are not the only ones who are denied their say. Britain deserves a referendum, and deserves to be shot of both this government and the dishonest opposition.

"UKIP will have more than 500 candidates in the next general election and we plan to fight every inch of the way to allow our people a say in their own future. Nothing else is acceptable."