One hundred MPs to rebel over sale of Royal Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 12641.html

Brown fears ministers will resign over plans for part-privatisation

By Nigel Morris, Deputy Political Editor
Saturday, 27 December 2008

More than 100 Labour MPs are ready to defy the Government and join a guerrilla campaign against moves to sell off a stake in Royal Mail.

The backlash against the part-privatisation – with plans being drawn up for protests around the country – threatens to present Gordon Brown with his biggest rebellion of 2009.

Labour whips have already warned ministers about the strength of feeling over the moves which would hand a stake of between 25 and 33 per cent in Royal Mail to a foreign buyer. The current Labour majority is 63, which would be wiped out if only 32 MPs defy the Government, leaving ministers in the embarrassing position of needing Conservative support to get the measure through the Commons.

Backbench rebels – who claim the proposals contradict Labour manifesto commitments – have already met Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, and are demanding he modify the plans. They are also linking up with the Communication Workers Union which is planning to hire management consultants to draw up an alternative model for Royal Mail that keeps it entirely in public hands.

Jim McGovern, who was a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Business and Enterprise, has already resigned in protest against the policy. Some ministers are also believed to oppose the plans and may threaten to resign if forced to vote on the issue in the Commons. Given the pressing financial problems facing Royal Mail, legislation would need to be introduced by the summer.

A spokesman for the Compass think-tank, which is campaigning against the proposals, said an early-day motion criticising the part-privatisation would be tabled after the Commons returns on 12 January. He said: "We expect at least 100 Labour MPs to support it." One Labour MP added: "We believe at least half the parliamentary party are against the idea. So are a lot of ministers too, if only they were free to speak."

An early indication of the hostility came after the proposals were announced in the Commons by Pat McFadden, the Post Office minister, when no Labour MP spoke in favour of the part-privatisation.

The critics included the former ministers Peter Hain and Kate Hoey. Lord Mandelson also had a chilly reception when he spelt out the proposals at a private meeting with Labour MPs in the Commons last week. The Labour MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, Michael Connarty, said: "If someone tried to bludgeon it through it would be voted down."

Mr Connarty, secretary of the CWU parliamentary liaison group, called on the Government to turn round Royal Mail's fortunes by heavy investment in new technology to put it on an even footing with its European rivals. Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley, said: "MPs feel very strongly about this and they are rallying together. We have now got to find out exactly what the Government is going to come forward with."

A cabinet minister told The Independent that the Government anticipated fierce resistance on its own benches to Lord Mandelson's proposals and would "patiently explain" the situation to MPs. But he insisted that the financial problems faced by Royal Mail were so serious that ministers were determined to press ahead with reform. Lord Mandelson said the move was essential to preserve deliveries six days a week to every address in Britain.

The Government also says that Royal Mail lags way behind other western European postal services in levels of modernisation.

As part of the campaign against the proposals, Compass is preparing alternative concepts for a publicly owned Royal Mail linking up with post offices that would be transformed into a national network of "people's banks" offering cheap banking.

[Yahoorsur]

A cabinet minister told The Independent that the Government anticipated fierce resistance on its own benches to Lord Mandelson's proposals and would "patiently explain" the situation to MPs. But he insisted that the financial problems faced by Royal Mail were so serious that ministers were determined to press ahead with reform. Lord Mandelson said the move was essential to preserve deliveries six days a week to every address in Britain.

The Government also says that Royal Mail lags way behind other western European postal services in levels of modernisation.


A situation brought about by this government,fixing the market against Royal Mail and not ensuring a level playing field,
why is it that when modernisation is the keyword it invariably means that the workforce can expect massive attacks on terms and conditions?
I'm looking forward to the campaign starting in the New Year,lets hope that we all try and play our part in defeating the Neo-lib proposals.

[not me]

too little too late?

[Yahoorsur]

too little too late?

Nope,I honestly think that this can be challenged and stopped.

[fmrPOSTIE]

too little too late?

No way is it too little too late. Thankfully it's not an easy process privatising RM. It's enshrined in law as a public company therfore any change needs new legislation brought in. I honestly think these plans can be defeated, far too many MPs are against this and the Lords don't like it either.

[DGP1]

too little too late?

No way is it too little too late. Thankfully it's not an easy process privatising RM. It's enshrined in law as a public company therfore any change needs new legislation brought in. I honestly think these plans can be defeated, far too many MPs are against this and the Lords don't like it either.

I'd like to think that it will be defeated but if I've learned anything about Governments it's nothing ever gets defeated, it just gets put off for a while and then they try again.

[Big Daz]

too little too late?

Possibly

If it comes before the commons to vote on then the combined might of the Conservatives and Lib Dems who will vote in favour will cancel out any Labour rebellion.

The political campaign needs to go much much further than just the Labour party/government!!!!!

[borders]

too little too late?

Nope,I honestly think that this can be challenged and stopped.

i agree

[MickR]

A cabinet minister told The Independent that the Government anticipated fierce resistance on its own benches to Lord Mandelson's proposals and would "patiently explain" the situation to MPs. But he insisted that the financial problems faced by Royal Mail were so serious that ministers were determined to press ahead with reform. Lord Mandelson said the move was essential to preserve deliveries six days a week to every address in Britain.

The Government also says that Royal Mail lags way behind other western European postal services in levels of modernisation.


A situation brought about by this government,fixing the market against Royal Mail and not ensuring a level playing field,
why is it that when modernisation is the keyword it invariably means that the workforce can expect massive attacks on terms and conditions?
I'm looking forward to the campaign starting in the New Year,lets hope that we all try and play our part in defeating the Neo-lib proposals.

Absolutely spot on!! Right from the start anyone with an ounce of common sense( that automatically rules out Leighton and Crozier!) could see that RM had no chance, what's worse I haved never heard of anything so ludicrous as asking someone to contribute to their own demise, which is what has happened with the other "Postal operators" being able to undercut RM and then ask RM to deliver it! What a Joke. On the same scale is the fact that this government pre-empted the other European countries and opened the postal market up to competition first, and then were left with egg all over their faces as the other other European countries have now delayed indefinitely liberalisation, better still TNT (Dutch Post?) are interested in buying a share in RM, yet if I am correct their postal market hasn't been touched by competition? Priceless! I wonder if TNT would be in a position to invest in RM if they had to face the problems RM have had to face? I applaud the 100 Labour MP's for their revolt, at last! The way RM has been handled by this government is nothing short of a disgrace!

[NWpostie]

It would have to be a cross party issue, I don't what the Lib Dems views on this, I would imagine there are some opposition, I am also pretty sure some Conservatives are opposed to this proposal as well.

[fmrPOSTIE]

It would have to be a cross party issue, I don't what the Lib Dems views on this, I would imagine there are some opposition, I am also pretty sure some Conservatives are opposed to this proposal as well.

Its LibDem policy to seperate POL from Royal Mail and sell half the company to private investors, so they are Hooper AND WORSE...

[NWpostie]

They are not getting my vote then, thanks

[smokerjim]

They are not getting my vote then, thanks

Ditto.....and again for Blue Labour ( for having the temerity to suggest such a sacrilige ), and once more with feeling for the Conservatives ( they may not publically come on too strong about this proposal.....but for some of them it will be all their Christmases come at once ).

So......who does that leave to make a difference in Westminster? I know the SNP were always bloody noisy in SW1 and still play "Leftier than thou" with Labour in Hollyrood, but living and working sarf of the M25 means I doubt I'll find their candidate on my ballot.