Brown will back down over Royal Mail privatisation, predicts

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Brown will back down over Royal Mail privatisation, predicts Labour rebel

Leading backbencher says to call vote without compromising would be kamikaze move

Gordon Brown will be forced to back down over plans for the partial privatisation of Royal Mail, a Labour MP claimed today.

John Grogan, one of the backbenchers leading the campaign against the government's proposal to sell a minority stake in the postal service to the private sector, predicted in an interview on the BBC's World at One programme that there would soon be a climbdown.

Brown has been told that when it arrives in the Commons shortly after the local and European elections on 4 June, up to 100 Labour MPs are determined to vote against the part-privatisation bill, which has nearly cleared its passage through the Lords. Grogan said it would be "a kamikaze move" to hold a vote then without having compromised.

"A deal has got to be done between ministers and backbenchers. I know that there are members of the cabinet who feel this [strongly] now. They will assert some authority in the next few weeks and get the government plans substantially amended," Grogan said.

Today Compass, the left-leaning pressure group, published alternative plans for Royal Mail to be turned into a not-for-profit company. Downing Street aides have looked at the proposals, but Pat McFadden, the postal affairs ministers, described them as "unworkable and not under consideration".

Grogan dismissed McFadden's comments, saying: "I think there will be people much more senior than him who will hopefully realise the need to make some changes."

Downing Street also appeared to play down the prospects of a climbdown.

Asked if the government was open to alternative ideas for the future of Royal Mail, the prime minister's spokesman told reporters: "The key issue with the Royal Mail is how do we address the underlying financial problems the Royal Mail faces? They have a £5.8bn pension deficit and there is falling demand for their services as a result of email and other forms of communication.

"We are determined to save the Royal Mail, protect the Royal Mail for the future and protect the universal service obligation of the Royal Mail. That's why we've put forward the proposal that we have.

"As Pat McFadden was saying, if there are alternative proposals that secure the financial position of the Royal Mail then let's hear them. We haven't seen them so far."

But Grogan told the World at One that these comments should be treated with caution.

"Ministers always insist that there's no alternative until a change of policy is announced. I don't think we're too far from that change of policy being announced," he said.

The Tories support the part-privatisation. Brown could in theory get the legislation through the Commons with Conservative support, but this would be hugely embarrassing and there is also a chance that it might not happen, because government whips believe David Cameron would find some excuse at the last minute for lining up with the Labour rebels in the hope of inflicting even more damage on Brown.

In a separate interview on the World at One, Kenneth Clarke, the shadow business secretary, said the Conservatives would not withdraw support from the bill in such a way.

Asked if the Tories would guarantee to back the government, he said: "Of course. We have made this clear from the word go. We think something of this kind should have been done many years ago. We will carry on voting for it."

Asked if a future Tory government would privatise the whole of Royal Mail, Clarke said: "We would give a good go to whatever we inherited. I don't think one should be motivated by ideology of any kind in this."

[prowler]

Interesting times ahead methinks, especially when New Liebor get trashed in the euro elections. Brown is so out of touch, I don't think he knows what planet he's on. Would not surprise me if they try to force it through, unless some senior labour figures try to talk some sense into him. And what about poor (unelected) Mandy? He would look a bit of a prick.
Aren't the Tories a laugh as well - best chance they have to bring Broon doon and they say they're going to support him.

[Big Daz]

The Conservatives are looking at the bigger picture.

By letting the government do this now it saves them having to do it when they come in to power and be on the reciveing end of hostility, they do not have to worry about a election manifesto that says sell off part of Royal Mail.

The other thing they must be thinking, is the damage that this will do to the Labour Party/Government being forced to rely on Conservative support and loosing union support as well from the CWU could be greater than simply not voting with the government.

[BELIAL]

Con party /labour party ;in practical terms there's not a fag paper between them. the rhetoric differs ,but the end result is identical. The term democracy implicitly requires a choice
Anyone still falling for that old chestnut

[Big Daz]

Whay are the people of this country so in love with the Conservatives and Labour?

There are so many more political parties out there, yet nobody wants to give them the time of day.

[BELIAL]

I do ,the Greens look nice but that new RMT supported party seem more likely to grasp the nettle

[fmrPOSTIE]

Whay are the people of this country so in love with the Conservatives and Labour?

There are so many more political parties out there, yet nobody wants to give them the time of day.

Because the pathetic media "sensor" many of the partys' or dont give them the time of day because it does not suit them. I totally agree with you. Interesting to note that the Lib Dems will not support the govt on this when the vote comes.

Will GB gamble on the tories giving their full backing? David Cameron could put one on him and finish him off.

[Big Daz]

Make no mistake the lib dems favour a sell off, but the overall pacakge of the postal services bill does not meet their policy enough so therefore they vote against the bill.

[Big Daz]

I do ,the Greens look nice but that new RMT supported party seem more likely to grasp the nettle

I thought they planned on not taking their seats if eelcted, which means they are of no use to man or beast.


Fine as a protest vote, but useless if you want a MEP thats going to get stuck in and deal with the issues.