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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Postal leaders attack Mandelson | Postal leaders attack Mandelson |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Postal union leaders have blamed Lord Mandelson and Royal Mail chiefs for the failure to reach a deal and call off two 24-hour strikes from midnight. | Postal union leaders have blamed Lord Mandelson and Royal Mail chiefs for the failure to reach a deal and call off two 24-hour strikes from midnight. |
| The Communication Workers' Union said the business secretary had worked with Royal Mail to "undermine the dispute". | The Communication Workers' Union said the business secretary had worked with Royal Mail to "undermine the dispute". |
| CWU leader Billy Hayes dubbed him the "minister without responsibility". | CWU leader Billy Hayes dubbed him the "minister without responsibility". |
| But Business Minister Pat McFadden said it was "fantasy" to suggest Lord Mandelson had vetoed a deal in the row over pay, conditions and modernisation. | But Business Minister Pat McFadden said it was "fantasy" to suggest Lord Mandelson had vetoed a deal in the row over pay, conditions and modernisation. |
| In a press conference on Thursday CWU deputy leader Dave Ward said he believed every time progress had been made, "external forces" had deliberately attempted to undermine the chances of a deal. | In a press conference on Thursday CWU deputy leader Dave Ward said he believed every time progress had been made, "external forces" had deliberately attempted to undermine the chances of a deal. |
| 'Pay-back time' | 'Pay-back time' |
| Singling out Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson, Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier and Lord Mandelson, he said: "What we have seen in the last few days is a deliberate choreograph that tells us that the government and the Royal Mail are working hand in hand to avert any chances of reaching a solution." | Singling out Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson, Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier and Lord Mandelson, he said: "What we have seen in the last few days is a deliberate choreograph that tells us that the government and the Royal Mail are working hand in hand to avert any chances of reaching a solution." |
| He claimed the "real truth behind this dispute is that Lord Mandelson clearly feels it is pay-back time because we defeated him on privatisation". | He claimed the "real truth behind this dispute is that Lord Mandelson clearly feels it is pay-back time because we defeated him on privatisation". |
| ANALYSIS Chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg | ANALYSIS Chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg |
| Gordon Brown said he did not want the postal strikes to be in the political arena. Well, the union retort to that tonight was an extraordinary attack on Lord Mandelson. | Gordon Brown said he did not want the postal strikes to be in the political arena. Well, the union retort to that tonight was an extraordinary attack on Lord Mandelson. |
| The CWU accused him of working with Royal Mail management to undermine talks. Its general secretary even branded Lord Mandelson the "minister without responsibility", saying he had washed his hands of the dispute, and had essentially colluded with the Royal Mail to allow the strikes to proceed. | The CWU accused him of working with Royal Mail management to undermine talks. Its general secretary even branded Lord Mandelson the "minister without responsibility", saying he had washed his hands of the dispute, and had essentially colluded with the Royal Mail to allow the strikes to proceed. |
| Sources close to Lord Mandelson said the strikes were "tragic" and said the CWU had targeted him before to deflect attention from the dispute. | Sources close to Lord Mandelson said the strikes were "tragic" and said the CWU had targeted him before to deflect attention from the dispute. |
| The government has consistently urged the two sides to get together and talk but tonight they find themselves facing criticisms from the unions and the Conservatives - both accusing ministers of allowing the strikes to go ahead. UK postal strike is to go ahead Leaders clash over postal dispute | The government has consistently urged the two sides to get together and talk but tonight they find themselves facing criticisms from the unions and the Conservatives - both accusing ministers of allowing the strikes to go ahead. UK postal strike is to go ahead Leaders clash over postal dispute |
| Earlier Conservative leader David Cameron also sought to link the strikes to the fact the government put the Postal Services Bill - which would have part-privatised Royal Mail and was strongly opposed by Labour MPs - on hold in July. | Earlier Conservative leader David Cameron also sought to link the strikes to the fact the government put the Postal Services Bill - which would have part-privatised Royal Mail and was strongly opposed by Labour MPs - on hold in July. |
| CWU general secretary Billy Hayes added: "It does appear that Peter Mandelson is the minister without responsibility. We used to have secretary of states that said they would intervene morning, noon and night to save British industry ... He appears to want to wash his hands of this particular dispute." | CWU general secretary Billy Hayes added: "It does appear that Peter Mandelson is the minister without responsibility. We used to have secretary of states that said they would intervene morning, noon and night to save British industry ... He appears to want to wash his hands of this particular dispute." |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the CWU hoped to drag Gordon Brown into the dispute, getting him to bypass Lord Mandelson and Royal Mail management and insist on independent arbitration. | |
| More than 100 Labour backbenchers have signed a Commons motion broadly supportive to the union. | |
| Labour backbench MP John McDonnell called for another minister to be appointed to bring both sides together, saying confidence had been lost in Lord Mandelson. | Labour backbench MP John McDonnell called for another minister to be appointed to bring both sides together, saying confidence had been lost in Lord Mandelson. |
| But business minister Pat McFadden told the BBC: "It is wrong to say that the government has been trying to stop a settlement, the very opposite is true." | But business minister Pat McFadden told the BBC: "It is wrong to say that the government has been trying to stop a settlement, the very opposite is true." |
| He added that he saw "no real reason" for the strike to take place: "There appears to be a disagreement about changes in working practices agreed two years ago. I think the public will be baffled as to why something like that should lead to a national postal strike." | He added that he saw "no real reason" for the strike to take place: "There appears to be a disagreement about changes in working practices agreed two years ago. I think the public will be baffled as to why something like that should lead to a national postal strike." |
| In a statement Lord Mandelson said he "deeply" regretted the strikes which he said would hit the company, the workforce, people and businesses. | In a statement Lord Mandelson said he "deeply" regretted the strikes which he said would hit the company, the workforce, people and businesses. |
| "In the meantime, the government will ensure that vital services to the public, especially those who are most vulnerable, are maintained." | "In the meantime, the government will ensure that vital services to the public, especially those who are most vulnerable, are maintained." |
| He added the only way to resolve it would be through "productive talks and negotiations". | He added the only way to resolve it would be through "productive talks and negotiations". |
| In the Commons earlier, Conservative leader David Cameron accused the prime minister of lacking the "courage and leadership" to intervene in the dispute. | In the Commons earlier, Conservative leader David Cameron accused the prime minister of lacking the "courage and leadership" to intervene in the dispute. |
| Mr Cameron suggested that the government's failure to push ahead with plans to part-privatise Royal Mail had meant "union militancy has got worse". | Mr Cameron suggested that the government's failure to push ahead with plans to part-privatise Royal Mail had meant "union militancy has got worse". |
| Mr Brown said the bill to part-privatise Royal Mail had nothing to do with the postal dispute, which dated back to 2007. He also accused Mr Cameron of bringing industrial relations "into the political arena". | Mr Brown said the bill to part-privatise Royal Mail had nothing to do with the postal dispute, which dated back to 2007. He also accused Mr Cameron of bringing industrial relations "into the political arena". |