Exclusive: Royal Mail sale is off

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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There’s been speculation over whether the bidders were putting in a good price, there’s been talk about putting off an auction. But it doesn’t matter anymore.

Last night’s difficult Parliamentary Labour party meeting, plus the House of Commons’ future business papers, make the situation clear: the Postal Services Bill that opens the door to up to half of Royal Mail being sold off, has been dumped from the Government’s legislative programme. Harriet Harman refused to answer questions on the subject, apparently preferring to let the business papers do the talking.

It could come back, of course. But with Labour MPs and activists alike despairing of the party’s fortunes, how soon are they going to revisit such a toxic issue, one that could lose them votes as well as union backing? (N.B. The Communication Workers Union is not likely to vote for disaffiliation at their conference next week however, as the executive is against it.)

What this means for Lord Mandelson, who on Sunday said he was “not for turning” on part-privatisation, remains to be seen. Lindsay Hoyle, one of the MPs leading the fight against mail sale, wryly says: “He’s a very capable minister. Why leave them in one position when you can move them to one that needs fixing?” Reshuffle should be interesting.

Update: I should make clear, the situation according to MPs is that the bill doesn’t appear to be being debated at any point in the next three to four weeks. That takes us to within three weeks of the long summer recess…

[k979aaa]

Good but be on your guard as :mfo has a habit of slipping things in early taking us all by surprise!. :mfo

[baldrick]

:mfo could be waiting until CWU Conference is over before slipping it back in.

[avugotmegiro]

oh he's :mfo good at slipping it in if ya know what i mean

[andy2007]

Hurray!!!!! Sanity at last!!!!!

[vanman]

Don't go celebrating too much that the bill has been delayed.

The last thing we want is for it all to be "kicked off into the long grass".

This will not resolve the things we want sorting out now, such as the pension deficit being taken on by HM Govt which will free up millions in RM. The other thing that needs sorting asap is the so called "competition" and the rules they and RM work under.

If the bill is delayed - none of this will be resolved and RM will remain in limbo - during which time the RM board will continue to refuse to deal with the Union on a national basis - let alone make a pay offer!

Don't forget we also need the future ownership of RM confirming before any General Election - because we know the Tories would sell the whole lot off to their mates if they got into power.

What we need is for the government to drop the privatisation plans and deal with the rest of it to settle all our futures.

The problem is this will involve a lot of "humble pie" eating. This isn't going to happen with Mandy in office.

We'll have to see what happens if he's moved in a re-shuffle.

[norbert]

:mfo could be waiting until CWU Conference is over before slipping it back in.

not to be trusted , a very bitter and vindictive old queen

Butt Plug sorry bath plug Jacqui will " resign " , I can imagine Darling & Millibrand being sacked - Mandy MAY get moved - still moving the deckchairs on the Titantic though , I hope they don't bring the Sheffield Stud back , Blunkett - another " retread " minister

[k979aaa]

:mfo could be waiting until CWU Conference is over before slipping it back in.

not to be trusted , a very bitter and vindictive old queen

Butt Plug sorry bath plug Jacqui will " resign " , I can imagine Darling & Millibrand being sacked - Mandy MAY get moved - still moving the deckchairs on the Titantic though , I hope they don't bring the Sheffield Stud back , Blunkett - another " retread " minister

With the vision of gordon brown and blunkett it would be the blind leading the blind!.

[norbert]

Don't go celebrating too much that the bill has been delayed.

The last thing we want is for it all to be "kicked off into the long grass".

This will not resolve the things we want sorting out now, such as the pension deficit being taken on by HM Govt which will free up millions in RM. The other thing that needs sorting asap is the so called "competition" and the rules they and RM work under.

If the bill is delayed - none of this will be resolved and RM will remain in limbo - during which time the RM board will continue to refuse to deal with the Union on a national basis - let alone make a pay offer!

Don't forget we also need the future ownership of RM confirming before any General Election - because we know the Tories would sell the whole lot off to their mates if they got into power.

What we need is for the government to drop the privatisation plans and deal with the rest of it to settle all our futures.

The problem is this will involve a lot of "humble pie" eating. This isn't going to happen with Mandy in office.

We'll have to see what happens if he's moved in a re-shuffle.

that is a very pertinent point about RM remaining in limbo , as RM's senior management have been pushing for privatization and they'll complain about the stress of being in limbo .

[axeman]

Come on one eye's better than four ?

[k979aaa]

Come on one eye's better than four ?

Not with his blinkered vision for us all!. Can he not see the shite he put in charge of business and regularity reform!. :mfo :mfo :mfo :mfo :mfo :mfo :mfo :mfo