boris1066 Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 I know they were "state run" Kije, before the Tories privatised them; but I was thinking about the argument over the Post Office privatisation, which seemed to imply the EU had rules on these matters now? The sell off of the sub post office's was to comply with a competition edict from the EU, but not sure if the Post Office is as some of our Euro partners major companies are practically state owned. Volkswagen and EDF for instance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 It's the Royal Mail that's up for sale, not the Post Office. Two different entities. The Royal Mail is being sold to comply with EU regulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boris1066 Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 It's the Royal Mail that's up for sale, not the Post Office. Two different entities. The Royal Mail is being sold to comply with EU regulations. The number of Post Offices was reduced by directive from EU to improve competition from other providers. The Royal Mail is to be privatised to enable private finance to be used instead of tax payers money. I'm quite happy to pay for it as I think it is another privatisation too many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Seems public opinion polls suggest a desire for re-nationalisations - certainly of the railways. So perhaps another reason to escape the dictatorship of the EU?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 I think many of the privatisations were purely money raising ventures & to create a few more millionaires along the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 Well, the theory was to introduce "competition" thus driving down prices; plus the ability to borrow on the open market. Doesn't seem to have happened though: the Banks were bailed out by the State, the Railways are still being subsidised by the State despite fares going through the roof; and energy prices just keep rising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 I cannot repeat this too many times. Royal Mail is being privatised to comply with EU directives. You can keep denying this until the cows come home but the fact is that all decisions are out of our plastic government's hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 That's crap Asp, UKIP bull!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Keep hiding your head in the sand if you like Lt Kije, but privatisation is seen as the only viable method of complying with EU directives: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/post/legislation/index_en.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Asp: I'm not disagreeing with your EU point: 70% of our political decision making is now made in Brussels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 What EU directive Asp? Or do you mean it is the cheapest way method of complying ? Only checked on France, but their system is nationalised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 If you look at the link you will see what directives are involved. It would appear that privatisation (which was attempted by the last Labour government as well) would be the the best solution for the taxpayer. After all you can't keep financing a loss making business forever, and the reason why Royal Mail has gone from profitable to loss making is by complying with the EU postal services directives. Norway, however, has decided they aren't going to comply even though they allegedly have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Once you take the pensions out of the equation, Royal Mail makes a profit, they got into trouble over pensions when a certain Tory leader gave a pension holiday, wonder who that was. The government have cut out pensions from the sell off, because nobody would touch them with it in, the tax payer is still going to be responsible and will end up paying for the pension black hole. So it is not as you said the EU are forcing the sell off, it's the government not investing, which has been the curse of the post office over many governments over the years including Mr Blair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Agree with your pension point: the tax-payer is left holding the toxic bit, while the profitable bit is sold off - rather selective privatisation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 So the EU directives are a figment of someones imagination which the EU has published for reasons best known to themselves? Clever. Nothing to see here, move along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Asp You are insinuating that it is the EU forcing the sale, you are wrong, it is a political decision by our current regeme. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Lt Kije you are insinuating that the EU doesn't direct the vast majority of government policy in this country. You are wrong. Our government is making this decision because it is, in their judgement, the best way forward now that EU directives have made the Royal Mail a millstone around the country's neck. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Asp Will you please print the part of the EU regulation that states that the Royal Mail has to be privatised. Looks like Baz has been playing again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Lt Kije, I'm afraid that you will have to do a bit of research yourself and read the directives. The EU is too manipulative to come out and say something so bluntly. Have you never heard of "the ratchet"? This is the way that the EU manipulates policy by using directives that force member states to change their policies little by little to meet EU objectives, but done at such a pace that no-one really notices until it's too late. In this case the postal services were opened up to EU wide competition little by little until it became obvious that the Royal Mail was unable to continue as a profitable concern in its present condition. EU regulation forbids the government from subsidising the business which leaves it with little choice apart from, at least, part privatisation. Now ask yourself, would this have happened if we hadn't been part of the EU? As I said before, Norway, which is outside the EU in the EEA, has refused to have anything to do with these directives despite Call me Dave's assertion that Norway has to obey EU directives without question. Over to you Mr EU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Looks like Baz has been playing again. Don't understand this bit. Does Baz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 So what your really saying is opinion Asp, now I see, and yes I couldn't find where it told the government to privatise Royal Mail either, If you hadn't noticed Asp, Baz loves to play with reputations, but since I posted it someone else has been playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Not a clue what he is on about.... I've been fitting a new kitchen into my pension all day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 So what your really saying is opinion Asp, now I see, and yes I couldn't find where it told the government to privatise Royal Mail either, If you hadn't noticed Asp, Baz loves to play with reputations, but since I posted it someone else has been playing. Kije.... you really are a buffoon.... Do you not think I have better things to do than mess with your reputation scores? especially when more people obviously agree with me than agree with you..... now go and play with your nuclear waste or whatever it is you do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Really Baz!!! You've been playing on and off for months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Maybe you like to think its just me who thinks you talk nonsense..... I think you need to wake up and smell the coffee; as the saying goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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