Croydon MP ready to rebel against Government over Royal Mail

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By IAN AUSTEN

Croydon North MP Malcolm Wicks has revealed he is prepared to vote against his own party's plans to partially privatise the Royal Mail.

He is one of more than 100 Labour MPs who have signed a House of Commons motion condemning the Government proposal.

The idea is due to be formally presented to the House of Lords by business secretary Lord Mandelson today (Thursday).

Mr Wicks says if it is not possible to persuade the Government to radically alter its proposals before they came to the Commons, he will vote against the bill.

The former pensions and energy minister, said: "I am not a natural rebel and have never voted against the Government.

"I would not see this as an anti-Labour vote because our last manifesto committed us to not privatising the Royal Mail."

The Government claims that bringing in a private company - probably Dutch firm TNT - to help modernise the business is the best way of securing Royal Mail's future.

Mr Wicks said he and other MPs opposed to the bill accepted that Royal Mail needed modernising to meet new challenges.

But he added: "I can't believe that in the gene pool of UK industry there isn't someone who can run this important company.

"The days of dealing with problems by looking to the private sector are past their sell-by date."

[andy2007]

Well done for making a public stand against this terrible Bill!