PLAID Cymru politicians Jonathan Edwards MP and Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM have branded today’s announcement to privatise the Royal Mail as the beginning of the end of a universal postal service.

MP Jonathan Edwards said that privatisation was a threat to rural communities and the ‘one price goes anywhere’ guarantee. He went on to compare the decision to the previous privatisation disasters of the railways and utility companies.

His constituency colleague, and Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Communities, Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM said it was a sad day for the Royal Mail. He added that the Tory and Lib Dem government had finally done what successive UK Governments had wanted to do for years and warned that just like the changes to S4C, legislation could be changed in the future.

Jonathan Edwards MP said:

“Despite the rhetoric, the decision to privatise Royal Mail is undoubtedly the beginning of the end of the universal postal service and the one-price-goes-anywhere guarantee.

“The rural communities I represent have seen a continuous erosion of services over many years. The Royal Mail sell off is yet another nail in the coffin for our rural towns and villages who have already seen the closure of libraries, schools and cutbacks in public transport.

“Whatever the political hue of Westminster governments, their privatisation visions have always failed the people they were meant to serve. Whether it’s the railways or the utility companies, privatisation has meant profit before people and shareholders before service.

“The majority of Welsh MPs are against this decision, yet it will be imposed on us by the London government. Plaid Cymru is unequivocally opposed to privatisation of the Royal Mail.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM added:

“By privatising the Royal Mail, the Conservative and Lib Dem government has finally achieved what successive UK governments have attempted for years. For a company which doubled its annual profits earlier this year, it is a sad day for Royal Mail and the people it serves.

“Just like S4C funding, legislation can be amended in future, which makes the threat to the universal service obligation and a six day service very real.

“Plaid Cymru considers Royal Mail to be part of the national infrastructure of our nation and opposes privatisation completely.”