Bid to contain Royal Mail revolt

[Geezer]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-ne ... -22692287/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Jan 14 2009

Business Secretary Peter Mandelson has sought to head off a revolt by Labour MPs over the part-privatisation of the Royal Mail with a hint of a new light-touch regulatory regime.

Appearing before the Commons Business and Enterprise Committee ahead of a crunch meeting with Labour rebels, Lord Mandelson expressed "regret" at the way the postal market had been opened up to competition in 2006.

He said that he was prepared to consider making "adjustments" when responsibility for regulation passed from Postcom to the communications industry watchdog, Ofcom, under the Government's planned changes.

"I am not an unqualified admirer of all aspects of the regulation and liberalisation of this market," he told the committee.

"I have got my own views on that and I think that in the course of transferring responsibility from Postcom to Ofcom, I think it would be desirable to take a look and possibly to make some adjustments in that.

"I happen to believe that if you are going to open a market, if you are going to liberalise it and open it to greater competition, then the existing player has to be in a position take on that competition.

"I regret that the modernisation, the increased productivity and efficiency of the Royal Mail has not gone ahead as speedily as we would have liked which would have better equipped it to take on that competition in a liberalised market."

Sixty-seven Labour rebels, including Michael Meacher and Frank Dobson, have signed a Commons motion opposing the plan to sell a minority stake in Royal Mail, which could leave the Government dependent on Tory votes if it is to get the measure through the Commons.

[brothermagrew]

Now standing at 71 signatures.

[norbert]

Now standing at 71 signatures.

what :mfo says is cr** , it's riddled with contradictions and patronizing - :mfo seems to have a very short memory ?