Roll of Honour

There was an Opposition Day Debate in the House of Commons yesterday. Ken Clarke moved:

"That this House welcomes the Hooper review of UK postal services; and urges the Government to implement rapidly the review’s proposals for the partial privatisation of Royal Mail."

The Government amendment stated that the House:

"notes the threats to the future of the Royal Mail and welcomes the conclusion of the Hooper Report that, as part of a plan to place the Royal Mail on a sustainable path for the future, the current six days a week universal service obligation (USO) must be protected, that the primary duty of a new regulator should be to maintain the USO, and that the Government should address the growing pensions deficit; notes that modernisation in the Royal Mail is essential and that investment must be found for it; endorses the call for a new relationship between management and postal unions; urges engagement with relevant stakeholders to secure the Government’s commitment to a thriving and prosperous Royal Mail, secure in public ownership, that is able to compete and lead internationally and that preserves the universal postal service; further notes the Conservatives’ failure to invest in Royal Mail when they were in power in contrast with Labour’s support for both Royal Mail and the Post Office; and notes that legislation on these issues will be subject to normal parliamentary procedures."

Two Conservative MPs voted against the "Conservative" motion, and then abstained on the Government amendment:

Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham)

Edward Timpson (Crewe & Nantwich)

Good for them. With all its businesses in profit for the first time in 20 years, the Royal Mail does not need even partial privatisation.

Those who believe in public services, in strong unions, and in rural communities must unite with those, very largely the same people, who believe in national sovereignty (both as against the EU and as against the foreign acquisition of a key national asset), in the monarchy's direct link to every address in the country, and in rural communities.

Together, we can save our Post Office.

No less than the social, cultural and political arguments, the economic arguments are on our side.