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| Scottish independence: Royal Mail sale would be reversed post-yes says Salmond | Scottish independence: Royal Mail sale would be reversed post-yes says Salmond |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The privatisation of Royal Mail would be reversed in an independent Scotland, First Minister Alex Salmond has said. | The privatisation of Royal Mail would be reversed in an independent Scotland, First Minister Alex Salmond has said. |
| The UK government wants to float the service on the London Stock Exchange to allow it to stay competitive. | The UK government wants to float the service on the London Stock Exchange to allow it to stay competitive. |
| But Mr Salmond said, in the event of a "Yes" vote in 2014, a post-independence government led by him "will bring the Royal Mail back into public ownership". | But Mr Salmond said, in the event of a "Yes" vote in 2014, a post-independence government led by him "will bring the Royal Mail back into public ownership". |
| The first minister's confirmation came after sustained questioning from MSPs at the Scottish Parliament. | The first minister's confirmation came after sustained questioning from MSPs at the Scottish Parliament. |
| The SNP government has, until now, declined to specifically state what it would do under independence if the sale went ahead. | |
| The first minister has already asked UK ministers to hold off on privatising the Royal Mail until after the referendum, on 18 September 2014. | |
| Responding to Tory MSP Gavin Brown during first minister's questions, Mr Salmond said: "An independent Scottish government that I lead - because it will be the decision of the Scottish people - will bring the Royal Mail, our postal service, back into public ownership." | Responding to Tory MSP Gavin Brown during first minister's questions, Mr Salmond said: "An independent Scottish government that I lead - because it will be the decision of the Scottish people - will bring the Royal Mail, our postal service, back into public ownership." |
| His comments came the day after Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney gave a less definitive answer to the question of whether the service would be re-nationalised under independence. | His comments came the day after Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney gave a less definitive answer to the question of whether the service would be re-nationalised under independence. |
| Mr Swinney told a BBC Scotland TV debate programme on Wednesday night: "What I don't know at this stage, which is why it's impossible to give a definitive answer about what condition the service would be in is exactly what shape it would be in as a consequence of privatisation - but my clear instinct is to retain postal services within the public sector." | Mr Swinney told a BBC Scotland TV debate programme on Wednesday night: "What I don't know at this stage, which is why it's impossible to give a definitive answer about what condition the service would be in is exactly what shape it would be in as a consequence of privatisation - but my clear instinct is to retain postal services within the public sector." |
| Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna has said Labour would not pledge to renationalise the Royal Mail, arguing that such move would be "completely irresponsible" and "like writing a blank cheque". | |
| The Westminster government said the sale was necessary to give Royal Mail the access to private capital it needed to grow. | The Westminster government said the sale was necessary to give Royal Mail the access to private capital it needed to grow. |
| But Scottish ministers said the move could have a serious impact on the Scottish economy and rural communities. | |
| Meanwhile, employees at the postal service are being balloted for strike action by the Communication Workers Union. |