I had this on the "Seen elsewhere" listing last night but the government's latest "assurance" on the matter is worth a
second look:
Plaid Cymru has called on the UK Government to ensure the Welsh dragon remains represented on stamps.
Plaid Cymru has tabled amendments to the Postal Services Bill, which is due for its third reading and will provide for the privatisation of Royal Mail.
Amendments have already been made to the bill which will ensure UK stamps will feature the Queen's head, even if Royal Mail enters foreign hands.
Plaid's Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd MP said Royal Mail sells stamps in Wales which feature the Welsh dragon and other Welsh symbols alongside the Queen's head.
"It would be very sad to see national and historical designs replaced by corporate logos.
"I would urge the UK Government to support our amendment to ensure that distinctive Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English images are kept on our stamps - just as they have done with the Queen's head."
You can just imagine the potential state of our stamps plastered with some of those "corporate logos" but as I said the answer to the PC MP is interesting:
A Department for Business Spokesperson said: "This amendment is unnecessary.
"Our plans give ministers the power to require an image of the queen to appear on postage stamps.
"That power is wide enough to ensure that the Government could also require distinctive Scottish, Welsh, Irish and English designs on UK postage stamps.
"Could" is the operative word there surely?
"It is extremely hard to see any reason why any future owner would want to change these valuable and prestigious traditions.
No, it's not that hard to imagine once you admit to yourself the real reason potential buyers may be interested in purchasing the Royal Mail... because of its "valuable" and "prestigious" "traditions"? I don't think so.
4 comments:
Recall when we had our own distinctive Ulster stamps - as did other regions - with a tiny image of the Red Hand superimposed on a star, as on the Ulster Flag?
The Queen's head was slighty smaller - shrunken - to make room.
Then they decided to get rid of this tradition and the Sovereign's head took up the entire stamp.
I'm not sure I'd agree to shrinking the Queen for the Red Hand!
You guys stopped getting distinctive stamps?
Here we get or got till recently Scottish stamps with the Red Lion or the Saltire as the feature of the stamp with HM's head naturally in the corner. Recently we had the Stewart/Stuart dynasty set.
I suppose with our "unique" situation it's understandable if regrettable.
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