ABOVE: Vince Cable announces the sale

COUNCIL leaders across East Lancashire have signed a postcard condemning the Government’s decision to sell Royal Mail.

Yesterday, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced it would be floated on the London Stock Exchange by the end of the year.

The move, the brainchild of Business Minister Michael Fallon, will see up to 150,000 employees given 10 per cent of shares for free.

But the move has angered the Communication Workers Union, who said the sale — worth up to £3bn — would undermine the quality of service provided.

A protest involving postcards being handed out to the public has been organised for next Saturday outside Darwen Town Hall in Croft Street, and there are expected to be further demonstrations.

There are concerns that people in rural areas may have to pay more to receive their mail or even have to collect it from the Post Office themselves in a system similar to that of the US and Canada.

Carl Webb, North West regional representative of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), has embarked on a regional roadshow to get support for the union’s protest and spread the word. A large postcard has been signed by the leaders of Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council, Burnley Council and Rossendale Council.

Mr Webb said: “We have focussed on getting as many MPs and council leaders on board as possible. When we were in Blackburn for the signing, all the members of the public who spoke to us said they thought privatisation was a ridiculous idea.”

Andrew Tatchell, of the CWU, said: “When has privatisation ever been a success? I certainly can’t think of anything.

“If they are making profits and have the best customer service, why sell it? We have been giving out leaflets and lobbying MPs as part of a national campaign against this.

“The union has balloted for opinions and I can’t find anyone who thinks privatisation is a good idea.”

Announcing the decision in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Cable said: “This is logical, it is a commercial decision designed to put Royal Mail’s future on to a long-term sustainable basis.

“It is consistent with developments elsewhere in Europe where privatised operators in Austria, Germany and Belgium produce profit margins far higher than the Royal Mail but have continued to provide high-quality and expanding services.”