Exeter Postman delivers petition against Royal Mail privatisation

An Exeter Postman has delivered a petition opposing plans to privatise the Royal Mail.

Darren Rowbotham amassed 160,000 signatures against privatisation before delivering the petition to Downing Street personally.

Mr Rowbotham, who has been a postman for 13 years, fears that rural services will suffer if the postal service were to be privatised.

In an open letter on change.org Rowbotham wrote: “If the Government sells Royal Mail then the services that many people take for granted will be cut. The daily delivery service could stop -- meaning some rural areas will only see their postperson a few times a week.

“The price of a stamp could go up, local post offices could close and the private companies might start charging much more to delivery to rural areas. People will be left isolated, UK businesses will be affected and jobs will be at risk”

Labour MPs, including Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw who met Mr Rowbotham at the station today, have urged ministers to reconsider privatising.

The Department for Business has attempted to dismiss fears over privatisation stating that "regardless of ownership" Royal Mail would provide a six-day service across the UK.

Mr Rowbotham was also representing the Communitcations Workers Union (CWU) who in a recent poll revealed that 96% of members opposed privatisation.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: "This petition is an indication of the strong opposition felt across the country against plans to privatise Royal Mail.

This company is a valued national asset which made £403 million profit last year and is the foundation of the country's mail services.

"There are plenty of options for keeping Royal Mail a successful, publicly owned company and we hope that the Prime Minister will take on board the views of significant numbers of British people."