HYNDBURN MP Graham Jones has accused the government of ‘short changing’ the public by privatising the Royal Mail.

A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) found the price of the sell off was ‘bourne by the taxpayer’.

It said: “Although the [government] achieved its primary objective of delivering a sale of shares within this Parliament, it could have achieved better value for the taxpayer.”

Mr Jones, a Labour whip, said: “I did not believe that Royal Mail should be sold off, and it certainly should not have been sold on this timetable or at this price.

“The government was repeatedly warned this fire sale would not represent good value for taxpayers' money and the NAO's report has confirmed that the taxpayer has missed out as a result.”