Argyll’s representative at Westminster, Alan Reid MP, has spoken widely across Argyll about the need to save the Post Office from the part-privatisation the UK Government proposes – and about saving local Post Offices.

This is admirable and appropriate action. The issue involves powers reserved to Westminster and is precisely where Mr Reid’s energies need to be focusis critical for Argyll, with its small population dispersed across an extensive rural and island area and its low economic base.

The puzzle is though, that Mr Reid has not yet signed the Early Day Motion 426. This was lodged by Labour MP Geraldine Smith, as a protest at the Westminster Government’s plans to begin the process of privatising the Post Office. The motion has been signed by virtually all of the many Labour MPs who oppose this move and others -  and it has been available for signing for some time.

This failure to formally register his opposition may well simply be an oversight on Mr Reid’s behalf but it is one that requires to be remedied at once.

This is a cross party issue of real importance to rural areas like Argyll and Bute and it transcends petty politics. No one should be under any illusions that privatisation will inevitably lead to a reduced and more expensive service in rural areas where there is no real opportunity for private profits.

Dave Thompson, Highlands MSP, angered by the latest revelation of Lord Mandelson’s plan to bypass the House of Commons and introduce legislation to privatise Royal Mail, has written to the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in support of their opposition campaign to offer his assistance in any way he can.  The CWU is Britain’s largest communications union and Mr thompson sees it as leading one of the most dynamic campaigns against privatisation.

Mr Thompson says: ‘I am appalled by Lord Mandelson’s decision to go forward with this proposal, and it has now shockingly come to light that these plans go even farther than previously understood by allowing up to 49.9% of Royal Mail to be privatised’.

Below is a list of all of the Scottish MPs who have not uyet signed the Early Day Motion (whose text is at the foot of this list). What have these MPs been saying to their own constituents? Have they too been saying one thing at home to get votes and doing nothing at Westminster because they actually believe that the Post Office should indeed be sold off?

The overall list of Scottish MPs who have NOT signed the Early day Motion to protect the Post Office are:

• Danny Alexander, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Liberal Democrat
• John Barrett, Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat
• Anne Begg, Aberdeen South, Labour
• Russell Brown, Dumfries and Galloway, Labour
• Des Browne, Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Labour
• Malcolm Bruce, Gordon, Liberal Democrat
• David Cairns, Inverclyde, Labour
• Menzies Campbell, Fife North East, Liberal Democrat
• Alistair Carmichael, Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat
• Tom Clarke, Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, Labour
• Brian Donohoe, Central Ayrshire, Labour
• Frank Doran, Aberdeen North, Labour
• Nigel Griffiths, Edinburgh South, Labour
• Tom Harris, Glasgow South, Labour
• Eric Joyce, Falkirk, Labour
• Charles Kennedy, Ross, Skye and Lochaber, Liberal Democrat
• John McFall, West Dunbartonshire, Labour
• Rosemary McKenna, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, Labour
• Michael Moore, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Liberal Democrat
• David Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, Tory
• Anne Moffat, East Lothian, Labour
• Alan Reid, Argyll and Bute, Liberal Democrat
• John Reid, Airdrie and Shotts, Labour
• Willie Rennie, Dunfermline and West Fife, Liberal Democrat
• John Robertson, Glasgow North West, Labour
• Lindsay Roy, Glenrothes, Labour
• John Thurso, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Liberal Democrat
• Robert Smith, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Liberal Democrat
• Jo Swinson, East Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat

For information – here is the text of Geraldine Smith’s Early day Motion opposing the part-privatisation of the Post Office

Text of EDM 428:

That this House

• notes that the Labour Party Conference 2008, with the backing of Ministers, supported a vision of a wholly publicly-owned, integrated Royal Mail Group;
• welcomes the conclusion of the Hooper Report that the current universal service obligation offered by Royal Mail, including six days a week delivery, must be protected and that the primary duty of a new regulator should be to maintain it;
• further welcomes the recommendations in the Report that the Government should take responsibility for the pensions deficit which followed an extended contributions holiday;
• endorses the call for a new relationship between management and postal unions and welcomes the commitment of the Communication Workers Union to negotiate an agreement which would support the modernisation of the industry;
• observes that in 2007 the Government agreed to a £1.2 billion loan facility on commercial terms to modernise Royal Mail operations;
• rejects the recommendation of the Hooper Report to sell a minority stake in Royal Mail which would risk fracturing one of Britain’s greatest public services;
• further notes that the Government is currently advertising for a new Chair of Royal Mail;
• and urges the Secretary of State to appoint a Chair and management team who are committed to the principles of a modern public enterprise.