Royal Mail stake to be sold off

[maureenho]

Royal Mail stake to be sold off, George Osborne announces

The government's remaining 30% stake in the Royal Mail is to be sold and £3bn cut from government spending this year, George Osborne has said.

The chancellor said the Royal Mail shares money - valued at £1.5bn - would be used to pay down the national debt.

The £3bn in cuts come ahead of further reductions to be announced in July.

The NHS, schools and overseas aid are protected from cuts - but other departments such as the Home Office and MoD will have to find savings.

Labour accused Mr Osborne of "ripping up" his long term economic plan by springing the announcement on MPs.

The SNP said the move "poses real danger to the postal service and, in particular, the universal service obligation which is of huge importance to Scotland".

Follow developments on the Royal Mail sell-off with Politics Live

The government is committed to clearing the deficit by 2018/19 without increasing income tax or VAT, something Mr Osborne said would not be "easy".

He needs to find a further £30bn of savings over the next three years, including £12bn to come out of welfare spending and £13bn from cuts to government departments.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33004664

[wendy]

I cannot believe the Royal Mail is going to be sold.
It is a sad day.

[annie]

It is sad, it has been going downhill for a long time , suspect it will decline further when it is sold off completel;y