MPs to revolt over Royal Mail

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MORE than 100 Labour MPs have signed a Commons petition urging the Government to shelve plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail.

Their fierce opposition means Gordon Brown is unlikely to force through any sell-off without relying on Tory support.

The rebels will make their feelings known when Business Secretary Lord Mandelson addresses them tonight.

One said: “We urge the PM to back off. He risks the biggest rebellion since he became leader and the outcome could be rather messy.”

Posties’ leader Billy Hayes warns his union could divorce Labour over the issue, with relations at “breaking point”.

The Communication Workers Union is one of Labour’s biggest donors — pumping £1million into party coffers last year.

But Mr Hayes has promised members a vote on cutting links if part of the Mail is hived off.

A CWU poll today shows three out of four people oppose any privatisation — but this rises to nine in ten if foreign owners are involved. Dutch-owned TNT has expressed an interest in buying a stake.

Thousands of jobs already face the axe as bosses make £470million in cuts to trim down the business for sale.