Jimmy Savile Interview Transcripts Released

Details of Jimmy Savile's alleged sexual abuse have been made public for the first time after transcripts of an interview were published by Surrey Police.

The disgraced broadcaster was questioned by officers over accusations that he abused youngsters at Duncroft Children's home in Staines in Berkshire in the 1970s.

He denied forcing one girl to touch his groin until he was "aroused", making another perform oral sex and sticking his tongue down a young girl's throat.

The star then boasted to officers he had to brush off his accusers "like midges".

Savile told police he had done 'nothing wrong'

Savile, who died in 2011 aged 84, told officers he was "assaulted" by women when he worked for BBC Radio 1 and Top Of The Pops, insisting he did not abuse the youngsters at the children's home.

Savile told police the only reason the allegations were surfacing years later was because his fame made him an easy target and claimed his alleged victims were making the accusations for money.

"(In) my business there's women looking for a few quid, we always get something like this coming up for Christmas, because we want a few quid for Christmas right.

"And normally you can brush them away like midges and it's not much of a price to pay for the lifestyle."

Savile claimed his fame meant he had no need to "do anybody any harm".

"When you're doing Top Of The Pops and Radio 1, what you don't do is assault women, they assault you, that's for sure," he said.

"And you don't have to, because you've got plenty of girls about, and all that, so dealing with something like this, is out of the question and totally wrong, full stop."

The interview was held on October 1, 2009, at Stoke Mandeville Hospital by officers from Surrey Police when Savile was 83 years old.

Over 400 people say Savile abused them, a report claims

Savile went on to brag to police who were conducting the interview that he was in charge at the hospital.

"I own this hospital, NHS runs it, I own it and that's not bad," he said.

Savile said he had already had five newspapers settle with him after he threatened to sue them and described himself as the "Litigiousness".

Another allegation involved Savile asking a girl for oral sex in return for a job as a nurse. He also denied kissing a third girl on the mouth.

During the interview, released under the Freedom of Information Act, Savile rejected suggestions he was attracted to girls under 16.

Liz Dux, head of abuse at law firm Slater & Gordon, which is representing 72 alleged victims, said: "The interview shows Savile to be a man with complete disdain and contempt for those that he was purporting to help."

The interview emerged after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced more hospitals might be investigated as part of the inquiries into abuse by Savile on NHS premises.

In January, a Metropolitan Police and NSPCC joint report revealed the extent of Savile's alleged crimes.

It said 450 people had come forward alleging sexual abuse at the hands of Savile, who has been described as one of Britain's most prolific paedophiles.

Meanwhile, a man arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, the national police investigation into abuse claims against Savile, will face no further action.

The 65-year-old was held on suspicion of sexual offences that had no link to Savile but has been told there is not enough evidence to proceed.

:: Read the interview transcript here

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BBC Criticised For £24m Staff Relocation Costs

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

The multimillion-pound sum paid to BBC staff to help them relocate from London to Salford has been branded "difficult to justify" by MPs.

The £24m was spent relocating nearly 900 staff to MediaCityUK at an average of £28,000 per person.

There were 11 cases where the cost exceeded £100,000 per person, with one costing £150,000.

The move of several departments including BBC Sport, BBC Breakfast and Radio 5live was completed in April 2012.

The BBC developed the regional centre in Salford to address the fact that the majority of its decision-making and spending was being done in London.

Public Accounts Committee chairman Margaret Hodge

Many BBC staff who work in Salford were unwilling to speak to Sky News about the relocation allowances, with one describing the move to the North West as a "sensitive issue" within the corporation.

A report by the Public Accounts Committee criticised the large sums paid to staff to make the move and concluded that in future the BBC needs to find a better balance between treating staff fairly and spending licence fee payers' money in a reasonable way.

Committee chairman Margaret Hodge said: "The BBC did a good job in completing the move to Salford on time, within budget and without disruption to the television and radio services we all enjoy.

"However, the scale of some of the allowances paid to staff to relocate to Salford is difficult to justify.

"There were 11 cases where the cost of relocating staff exceeded £100,000 per person, with one costing £150,000.

"It is not acceptable that the BBC also failed to make a proper record of the exceptions it made to its allowance policy.

"The longer term success of the move to Salford depends on the BBC achieving the wider benefits it promised.

"These include reducing the gap between northern and southern audiences in the BBC's market share and stimulating economic and other regional benefits, including creating up to 15,000 jobs.

"The BBC's decision to enter into a 10-year contract for studio space at Salford seems to take little account the fast pace of change in the broadcasting industry.

"The BBC could end up having to pay for studio services it no longer needs."

In response the BBC issued a statement saying: "We are pleased that the Public Accounts Committee has recognised BBC North was delivered on time, under budget and with no break in services.

"We have just celebrated two years of award-winning TV, radio and online content, and the whole region is sharing in the momentum of Media City with spend by the Public Service Broadcast channels in the region up from 15.9% to 20% ."

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Rotherham 'Machete' Murder Victim Named

By Gerard Tubb, North Of England Correspondent

A butcher stabbed to death in the Eastwood area of Rotherham has been named as father-of-three Parvaiz Iqbal.

Emergency services were called to his Grosvenor Road shop at around 2pm as 999 calls were made to report a man brandishing a machete on streets between Eastwood and Rotherham town centre.

Mr Iqbal is understood to have died from stab wounds. A shop worker was also stabbed and seriously injured but was able to raise the alarm. He is said to be stable in hospital.

A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody after being detained in a nearby supermarket car park.

Forensic officers work outside Mr Iqbal's shop

Relatives of the dead man, who was in his forties, say he had taken on an extra worker the previous day to help with orders for the Muslim Eid-al-Adha festival, the shop's busiest time.

It is thought the man, a butcher, had been previously employed by Mr Iqbal but had been laid off some months ago after injuring himself at work.

Grosvenor Road, a quiet residential street, was cordoned off for several hours, with scenes of crime officers gathering evidence inside the shop and from damaged cars in the area.

Witnesses said a man had smashed car windows as he ran up the road and turned towards Rotherham town centre.

Butcher Parvaiz Iqbal was described as "courteous and kind"

Writing on Twitter, Richard Cattley said: "A man has just ran past me in Rotherham town centre wielding a machete covered in blood shouting move!! Police everywhere!

"All I saw him run past me with knife in hand shouting move adjacent to where the buildings are being knocked down opp market."

Local councillor Mahroof Hussain, whose wife was Mr Iqbal's cousin, told Sky News no one knew why he had been attacked.

"Eid should be a happy day, but now it will always be remembered for this," he said.

The alleyway beside Mr Iqbal's shop was cordoned off by police

Speaking after morning prayers at the nearby Abu Bakar mosque, he said Mr Iqbal's family were distraught.

Omar Mehban, a family friend said: "This is such a shock and I feel really deeply for his family.

"He was such a wonderful person, always courteous and kind. All the times I went in his shop, I can never recall him not smiling.

"It's absolutely devastating."

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Huawei To Build £125m Research Base In Britain

By Mark Stone, Beijing Correspondent

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is to open a £125m research and development centre in the UK, despite MI5 warnings of security concerns about the company.

The announcement came on the fourth day of the Chancellor's visit to China, during which he spent the day at the company's global headquarters in the southern city of Shenzhen.

By visiting the sprawling campus-based site with a delegation of small and medium-sized British tech firms, George Osborne gave a clear endorsement of a controversial company.

The United States has banned Huawei from selling everything except its mobile handsets and broadband devices.

Huawei employs some 150,000 people worldwide

A US congressional report expressed serious security concerns about the company because of its alleged links to the Chinese government and Chinese military.

Huawei's founder and chairman Ren Zhengfei is a former officer in the Chinese army, while the company also has a Communist Party "cell" operating within it, although this is a standard requirement for all Chinese companies employing a certain number of people.

In June, the UK Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) also published a report into the issue.

Mr Osborne responded to some of the security concerns, saying: "I know that there are some countries which are a little bit nervous of Huawei. That is not the United Kingdom.

"I think Huawei is a fantastic company with a great future - and a great future in the United Kingdom."

The firm's chief, Ren Zhengfei, held private meetings with George Osborne

The main purpose of the ISC report was to explore a decision in 2005 to award Huawei a contract to replace BT's copper cabling infrastructure with fibre optics.

However, within the report were expressions of concern about Huawei's operations from the UK Security Service MI5 and the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC).

"An attack would be very difficult to detect or prevent and could enable the Chinese government to intercept covertly or disrupt traffic passing through Huawei-supplied networks," the JIC was quoted as saying.

The Chancellor's announcement represents a further commitment to invest in the UK by a massive Chinese firm.

Huawei has gained ground in the competitive tablet market

Describing China's growth in hi-tech industries as a "huge opportunity" for Britain, he said: "We have some of the most innovative tech companies in the world and China offers them a huge export market.

"I am delighted to be introducing some of China's tech giants in Shenzhen to some of Britain's leading tech entrepreneurs."

Mr Ren said the UK was home to "some of the best hi-tech professionals in the world", adding: "Their creativity is a major asset to our research and development efforts, helping us produce the most advanced and competitive telecoms and broadband services available."

Huawei employs 150,000 people worldwide. Forty thousand of them are based at the Shenzhen HQ, where the average age is 26. The company boasts that it employs China's best brains.

The location of the new UK site has not been decided, but it is expected to employ 300 people.

More than 70% of Huawei's operations are dedicated to telecoms infrastructure - big ticket items like fibre optic cables and telecom network equipment.

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Employment: Jobless Benefit Claims Tumble

The number of people claiming jobless benefits saw its biggest monthly fall in more than 16 years in September.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) measured a drop of 41,700 in the number of Jobseeker's Allowance claims in September - the biggest drop since June 1997.

It follows a revised total of 41,600 in the previous month - 9,000 more than first reported - and means the so-called claimant count has fallen for 11 consecutive months to 1.35 million.

While the jobless rate remained at 7.7%, unemployment in the three months to August fell by 18,000 to 2.48 million.

Employment rose by 155,000 to 29.87 million, the biggest total ever recorded, giving a rate of 71.7%.

People classed as economically inactive also fell, down 83,000 to 8.95 million, while job vacancies rose by 6,000 over the latest quarter to 541,000, the highest for five years.

But the ONS data also showed that 1.45 million people were working part-time because they could not find full-time jobs, the highest figure since records began in 1992.

Average earnings growth fell back from 1.2% to 0.7% for the year to August compared to the previous month.

Youth unemployment fell between June and August

Average weekly earnings in private firms increased by 1.1% but the annual growth rate in the public sector slumped to minus 0.5%, the lowest since 2001.

There were 958,000 unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds in the latest three months, down by 1,000 over the quarter.

More than 1.1 million people have been unemployed for up to six months, down 32,000, but those out of work for between six months and a year rose by 29,000 to 446,000.

The number of people out of work for over a year fell by 15,000 to 900,000.

The Government's new Employment Minister Esther McVey paid tribute to the work of British business in keeping people in employment amid the deepest recession in a lifetime, saying one million more people were now in work compared to when the coalition took office.

But TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady pointed to the drop in average wage rises and said: "While it's good news that unemployment is still falling and more jobs are being created, there is still plenty to be worried about.

"People's pay packets continue to fall in real terms, earnings growth has never been lower and the longest wage squeeze in over a century is becoming even tighter.

"We need more high quality jobs and proper pay rises if this recovery is to begin to feel real for hard-working people."

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'Plebgate' Row: Cameron Blasts Police Conduct

MP Andrew Mitchell is owed an apology over the conduct of three police officers accused of lying about a meeting with him, the Prime Minister has claimed.

In a deepening row over the long-running 'plebgate' saga, senior police had hit back after Home Secretary Theresa May gave her support to an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The report questioned the "honesty and integrity" of Inspector Ken MacKaill, Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton and Sergeant Chris Jones, and said the trio should have faced misconduct hearings for their actions.

And speaking at Prime Minister's questions, David Cameron said Mr Mitchell was "owed an apology, the conduct of these officers was not acceptable" and "these things should be properly investigated".

The Home Affairs Select Committee's chairman Keith Vaz raised the row with Mr Cameron in the Commons, saying the IPCC report was "damning".

The PM said: "I agree 100% with what the Home Secretary said yesterday and I think we should be clear about what we are discussing here.

"The whole case about what happened outside 10 Downing Street, that's with the CPS and we have to leave that on one side until they make their decision.

"What's being discussed here is the fact that ... the former chief whip had a meeting with Police Federation officers in his committee where he gave a full account of what had happened, they left that meeting and claimed he had given them no account at all.

"Fortunately this meeting was recorded so he has been able to prove that what he said was true and what the police officers said was untrue."

Theresa May said the IPCC statement made "troubling reading"

"He is owed an apology, the conduct of these officers was not acceptable, these things should be properly investigated, as the Home Secretary has said."

Mrs May had previously backed the IPCC report that said West Mercia Police had been "quite wrong" not to take disciplinary action against the three men.

They are accused of lying about what chief whip Andrew Mitchell said in a private meeting about the so-called 'plebgate' affair last year.

Chief Constable David Shaw, of West Mercia Police, has been summoned to give evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on the issue.

However, in a joint statement with police in Warwickshire and the West Midlands, the force defended its handling of the case.

"Andrew Mitchell MP has never made a complaint to police," it said.

"West Mercia, with the support of West Midlands and Warwickshire Police, recognising the public interest in this case, independently decided to investigate this incident and made a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

"We asked for the matter to be independently investigated by the IPCC because we recognise the significant public interest in the matter, however this was declined.

"The IPCC have supervised this investigation throughout and have been invited to reconsider their position on more than one occasion.

"The decisions following this investigation were carefully considered, with the support of appropriate legal advice.

"Warwickshire, West Mercia and West Midlands Police have separately considered the findings of the investigation and all three forces agree on the outcome."

West Midlands Police Commissioner Bob Jones told Sky News said he had not seen conclusive evidence that the officers had lied.

"My job is to ensure there is a proper investigation," he said.

"There's been a very thorough investigation supervised by the IPCC."

West Mercia police commissioner Bill Longmore expressed surprise about comments by IPCC deputy chairwoman Deborah Glass and said he was seeking an urgent meeting with Mrs May.

"Given the critical statement which the IPCC deputy chair has made in the last few hours, I am frankly surprised the IPCC did not resume conduct of the investigation," he said.

"They certainly had the power to do so."

The chairman of the Police Federation, Steven Williams, also questioned the intervention by Ms Glass.

"My concern is that by releasing her personal view that she disagrees with the findings of the West Mercia investigation, she displays a lack of independence," he wrote in a letter to Mrs May.

Mr Mitchell met Mr MacKaill, Mr Hinton and Mr Jones, federation representatives of West Mercia, Warwickshire and the West Midlands respectively, on October 12 to "clear the air".

A transcript shows Mr Mitchell apologised for swearing at the police officers but denied using the word "plebs".

In comments made after the meeting, Mr MacKaill claimed the former Tory chief whip would not provide an account of the incident.

Giving evidence to MPs, Mrs May said: "The IPCC statement makes troubling reading.

"If it is indeed the case that warranted police officers behaved in the way Deborah Glass has described, that's not acceptable at all."

Asked if the chief constable of West Mercia Police should apologise to Mr Mitchell, Mrs May said: "I think that would be appropriate."

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Southampton: Mystery Noise Keeps People Awake

An investigation has been launched into a mystery night-time noise that has been plaguing residents for months.

People living in the industrial Waterside area of Southampton Water have been driven to distraction by the low-frequency drone that has been keeping them awake.

Some have taken to staying overnight at the homes of family and friends to avoid the buzz, while others have reportedly taken tablets to help them sleep through the noise.

New Forest District Council is trying to find the cause of the sound, which starts at around 10pm.

A spokesman said: "Within the last week we have received approximately 10 complaints relating to a low-frequency noise in the Waterside area.

"The complaints refer to the noise similar to that of a low-frequency drone, which has been occurring during the night for several months.

"Due to the large amount of heavy industry processes along the Waterside area, the Environment Agency and New Forest District Council environmental health teams are now working together to establish the source of the noise.

"Out-of-hours monitoring is to be carried out as part of the investigation."

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British Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Named

The family of a British soldier shot dead on patrol in Afghanistan has said Lance Corporal James Brynin of the Intelligence Corps had the "heart of a lion".

The 22-year-old, who was attached to 14 Signal Regiment, was shot when his patrol came under enemy fire in Kakaran, north of Lashkar Gah, Helmand, on Tuesday.

Although he received immediate medical attention he died from his injuries at the scene.

"Heart of a lion, we will always stand strong for you. We will never forget. Rest in peace – dad, Efrem; mum, Sharon; sister, Yasmin; and girlfriend, Olivia," the family statement said.

L Cpl Brynin's death takes to 445 the number of UK service members who have lost their lives since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001.

His is the first British death in the country since Corporal William Savage, Fusilier Samuel Flint and Private Robert Hetherington died when their Mastiff armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device on April 30.

Known as Jay, L Cpl Brynin joined the army in February 2011.

The Ministry of Defence said he had excelled in the army, had already been selected for promotion to the rank of corporal and had "grand ambitions".

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Purves, commanding officer of the 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), said: "Bright and engaging, L Cpl Brynin was immensely popular and an outstanding soldier in every respect.

"Having already completed one tour to Afghanistan, his appointment to support the Brigade Reconnaissance Force was indicative of his talent and leadership qualities.

"His selection for promotion to full corporal earlier this year highlighted his flair for his chosen profession."

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Slack MBE, commanding officer of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, the Brigade Reconnaissance Regiment, said L Cpl Brynin "was a star, burning bright and rising fast".

"From the moment he joined the Brigade Reconnaissance Force it was clear that we were blessed with a truly special individual," he said.

"His loss is one of the real tragedies of this military campaign."

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Madeleine McCann: 150 Calls After Dutch Appeal

Madeleine: Key Events Timeline

Updated: 9:48am UK, Monday 14 October 2013

Here is a timeline of the key events since Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

2007

:: May 3 - Kate and Gerry McCann leave their three children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while they dine with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.

Jane Tanner, one of the friends eating with the McCanns, later reports seeing a man carrying a child away earlier that night.

:: May 5 - Portuguese police reveal they believe Madeleine was abducted but is still alive and in Portugal, and say they have a sketch of a suspect.

:: May 14 - Detectives take Anglo-Portuguese man Robert Murat in for questioning and make him an "arguido", or official suspect.

:: May 25 - Detectives release a description of the man reported by Jane Tanner three weeks earlier after pressure from the McCanns, their legal team and the British Government.

:: May 30 - Mr and Mrs McCann meet the Pope in Rome in the first of a series of trips around Europe and beyond to highlight the search for their daughter.

:: August 6 - A Portuguese newspaper reports that British sniffer dogs have found traces of blood on a wall in the McCanns' holiday apartment.

:: August 11 - Exactly 100 days after Madeleine disappeared, investigating officers publicly acknowledge for the first time that she could be dead.

:: September 7 - During further questioning of Mr and Mrs McCann, detectives make them both "arguidos" in their daughter's disappearance.

:: September 9 - The McCanns fly back to England with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.

:: October 2 - Goncalo Amaral, the detective in charge of the inquiry, is removed from the case after criticising the British police in a Portuguese newspaper interview.

:: October 25 - The McCanns release a new artist's impression drawn by an FBI-trained expert showing the man described by Jane Tanner.

2008

:: March 19 - Mr and Mrs McCann accept £550,000 libel damages and front-page apologies from Express Newspapers over allegations they were responsible for Madeleine's death.

:: April 7 - Three Portuguese detectives, led by Paulo Rebelo, fly to Britain to re-interview the seven friends on holiday with the McCanns when Madeleine vanished.

:: July 17 - Mr Murat receives £600,000 in libel damages from four newspaper groups over "seriously defamatory" articles connecting him with the child's disappearance.

:: July 21 - The Portuguese authorities shelve their investigation and lift the "arguido" status of the McCanns and Mr Murat.

:: August 4 - Thousands of pages of evidence from the Portuguese police files in the exhaustive investigation into Madeleine's disappearance are made public.

2009

:: January 13 - Mr McCann returns to Portugal for the first time since coming back to the UK without his daughter.

:: March 24 - The McCanns launch a localised new appeal for information focused on the area in the Algarve where Madeleine disappeared.

:: April 4 - Mr McCann goes back to Portugal to help film a reconstruction of the events on the night his daughter vanished.

:: April 22 - The McCanns fly to the US to record an interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey to mark two years since Madeleine's disappearance.

:: June 14 - Dying paedophile Raymond Hewlett says he was in the Algarve when Madeleine disappeared and has an alibi - but has no plans to reveal it.

:: August 6 - Detectives say they are hunting a "Victoria Beckham lookalike" with an Australian or New Zealand accent, reportedly seen in Barcelona three days after the little girl went missing.

2010

:: Feb 18 -  Kate and Gerry McCann say they are "pleased and relieved" at a judge's decision to uphold a ban on a book by former detective Goncalo Amaral.

:: Mar 3 -  A newly-released file from Portugese police on possible sightings is called "gold dust" and could lead to a breakthrough, says a spokesman for the McCanns.

:: May 1 - Kate McCann reveals she had thoughts about being "wiped out" in a motorway crash to end the pain of losing Madeleine - but vows never to give up.

:: November 10 - Madeleine's parents launch an online petition to help force a UK and Portuguese joint review of all evidence in the case.

:: November 15 -  The McCanns sign a deal to write a book about their daughter's disappearance.

2011

:: May 13 - The Prime Minister David Cameron asks London's Metropolitan Police to help investigate the case.

:: November 23 - Kate and Gerry McCann appear at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics.

They tell how media pressure affected their family life and accuse newspaper editors of hampering the search for their missing daughter.

Kate McCann says she felt "violated" when her diary was published without her permission.

:: December 5 - Scotland Yard detectives spend time in Barcelona as part of their re-examination of the case.

2012

:: March 9 - Portuguese police in Oporto launch a review of the original investigation.

:: April 26 - Scotland Yard says Madeleine McCann may still be alive and release an artist's impression of what she may look like as a nine-year-old.

:: July 6 - British detectives examine a claim that the little girl's body is buried near the apartment from where she vanished. It comes after a self-styled investigator sends police radar scans he claims show a burial site.

2013

:: Feb 11 - Gerry McCann calls for politicians to implement the conclusions of the Leveson Inquiry in full, backed by legislation.

:: Feb 13 - Police say the results of DNA tests on a girl in New Zealand who was mistaken for Madeleine reveal that she is not the missing British girl.

:: Feb 21 - Retired solicitor Tony Bennett who published claims that Madeleine McCann's parents caused her death is given a suspended jail sentence.

:: May 2 - Madeleine McCann's parents tell Sky News a police review into their daughter's disappearance is making "excellent progress" as they mark the sixth anniversary since she went missing.

:: May 17 - Scotland Yard say they have identified a number of "people of interest" they want to speak to. It believes it has found enough evidence to reopen the case but the Portuguese authorities are still resistant. 

:: June 15 - The Home Office agrees to fund a full-scale investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

:: October 13 - UK detectives reviewing the case say key details in the timeline of her disappearance have "significantly changed".

:: October 14 - A fresh appeal is launched in a bid to find a suspect detectives say is of "vital importance", with two new separate e-fits - thought to be of the same man seen on the night Madeleine went missing - released by police.

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Royal Mail Staff To Strike In November

The first national postal strike in almost four years will be held on November 4, union bosses have confirmed.

A 24-hour stoppage is being planned by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) amid a bitter row with Royal Mail over pay and pensions which threatens to disrupt the busy Christmas delivery season if left unresolved.

The union ballot of around 115,000 of its members at Royal Mail and Parcelforce returned a 4-1 decision on a 63% turnout in favour of industrial action, which is linked to the recently completed privatisation of the service.

The vote was returned despite a windfall under the flotation that left full-time staff who took up free share options sitting on paper earnings worth £3,545 by close of trading on Tuesday.

Those shares cannot be sold for three years under the terms of the sale.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "Postal workers have spoken very clearly that they care about their jobs, terms and conditions far more than they care about shares.

"The stakes have become much higher for postal workers since privatisation, making this ballot more important than ever.

"Postal workers will not be the people who pay for the profits of private operators and faceless shareholders.

"The question now is whether this privatised Royal Mail still wants an agreement.

"We have offered the company a two-week period to reach an agreement and having already had many hours of negotiation, this is achievable if there is a will.

"What we want is a groundbreaking, long term, legally binding agreement that not only protects postal workers' job security, pay and pensions, but will also determine the strategy, principles and values of how the Royal Mail Group will operate as a private entity.

"This means there will be no further breakup of the company, no franchising of individual offices or delivery rounds, no introduction of a cheaper workforce on two-tier terms and conditions and no part time industry.

"It will mean - regardless of who owns Royal Mail - this company will not be able to enter the race to the bottom and replicate the employment practices and service standards of its competitors."

The union also announced a new ballot of its members at Royal Mail that would potentially enable postal workers to boycott competitors' mail to supplement the strike action.

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