Royal Mail snub for Brexit stamps is dereliction of duty, says MP
ROYAL MAIL has been attacked by a former Brexit minister for an “absolutely outrageous” decision not to print stamps to mark Britain leaving the European Union.
David Jones, a former minister at the Department for Exiting the EU, said Royal Mail had a duty to mark the UK’S “liberation” from the European Union in March 2019. The UK Independence Party also complained that Royal Mail “celebrates everything from Star Wars to the Beano but can’t be bothered to record the date of our departure from the EU”.
But pro-eu campaigners said Royal Mail was right not to mark Britain’s exit from the EU because it would be a “day of mourning, not celebration”.
Royal Mail produced stamps to mark the UK joining the European Economic Community – which later became the EU – in 1973. They showed a Union Jack emblazoned UK jigsaw piece slotting into a bigger European puzzle.
But in a statement it said: “Royal Mail does not intend to issue a stamp to mark the UK’S exit from the EU.”
Mr Jones said he would be writing to Greg Clark, the Business Secretary, who has oversight of the national postal service, to complain.
He said: “The Royal Mail has an absolute obligation to recognise a new chapter in the history of this country.
“It was a sufficiently important issue to attract the votes of 17.2million people – and as a matter of simple respect Royal Mail should be ensuring that the occasion is properly marked.”
He added: “It is outrageous. This is a new and important chapter in the history of this country – and they have got a positive duty to mark it.
“If they can mark our accession to it then they should mark the country’s liberation.”
But Royal Mail’s decision was welcomed by campaigners against leaving the EU.
Eloise Todd, chief executive of Best for Britain, said: “The Royal Mail aren’t creating stamps because Brexit day will be a day of mourning, not celebration for millions of people who believe that Britain should lead, not leave Europe.
“We are pulling away from our friends and allies in deeply uncertain world.
“Brexit Day won’t be confirmed until parliament has agreed, so the Royal Mail is right not to waste its money. We might need stamps to commemorate the revival of common sense.”