Beleaguered Brown faces new showdown over Royal Mail plans

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Gordon Brown faces a bitter new showdown tomorrow with Labour MPs over plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail which threatens to further loosen his grip on power.

Backbench rebels vowed to call on the Prime Minister to ditch the proposals to sell off one third of the firm during what promises to be a fractious meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party tomorrow night.

They were encouraged yesterday by Jon Cruddas, the former deputy leadership contender, who condemned the Royal Mail sell off as ‘the wrong policy’ that ‘runs totally against the common sense instincts of the British people.’

Mr Brown’s post office critics will strike at his moment of maximum weakness, effectively making their support for his leadership dependent on the Prime Minister axing the unpopular policy.

A Labour MP said: ‘Emails have gone round the “antis” saying we are going to be there in numbers. We want it dropped.’

It is the first of several political hurdles that Mr Brown must clear this week if he is to remain a viable leader.

The Prime Minister will be held to ransom by Labour’s paymasters in the Communication Workers Union, which is threatening to sever its links with the party if there are not serious changes to the Royal Mail privatisation plans.

The union gives around £1 million to Labour every year but at the CWU’s conference tomorrow, members will debate a series of motions, including one to end all funding to the Labour party 'at the earliest opportunity.'

The Coventry branch's motion adds: ‘Union money spent on affiliation to the Labour party cannot any longer be justified.’

Another motion calls for financial support to be withdrawn from any Labour MP who backs the Government's plans.

The Prime Minister could also be hit by a series of potentially damaging Commons resignation statements by rebel ministers like Hazel Blears if the Speaker allows them.

On Wednesday Mr Brown must negotiate a tricky Commons vote called by the Scottish and Welsh Nationalists calling for the dissolution of Parliament, which would force an immediate general election.

What would usually be a formality for the government will be watched as a bellwether of Mr Brown’s credibility with his own MPs.

Labour whips have already cancelled overseas select committee trips to ensure that the party’s backbenchers are all on hand.

And yesterday it emerged that the government is preparing further political bribes for the Ulster Unionists to ensure that they do not swell the ranks of Labour’s opponents.

Mr Brown is also facing calls to do away with welfare to work reforms and the Trident nuclear deterrent, saving £20 billion, both issues likely to be raised at the PLP meeting.

Labour Party bosses are expecting damning resolutions calling on Mr Brown to quit to be submitted for debate at the party conference.

The deadline for submissions is the end of the month.

But his greatest dilemma will be over the Royal Mail, where capitulation would immediately shore up his support but risks alienating the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, on whom Mr Brown’s political survival now seems dependent.

Mr Brown promoted him to First Secretary of State, a title that means he is deputy prime minister in all but name, after Lord Mandelson ensured that a Blairite cabinet coup was still born last week.

[Big Daz]

But his greatest dilemma will be over the Royal Mail, where capitulation would immediately shore up his support but risks alienating the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, on whom Mr Brown’s political survival now seems dependent.

Mr Brown promoted him to First Secretary of State, a title that means he is deputy prime minister in all but name, after Lord Mandelson ensured that a Blairite cabinet coup was still born last week.

[mailman337]

[quote]Lord Mandelson, :mfo :mfo :mfo :mfo :mfo on whom Mr Brown’s political survival now seems dependent.**********************

Talk about the tail wagging the dog!!!!

[fmrPOSTIE]

I can tell you now the CWU WILL NOT diss-affiliate from the Labour party, dont know why the papers keep mentioning this?

[world_wide_wilf]

Personally I'd love to see Gordo go, and his lap dog.

[Big Daz]

I can tell you now the CWU WILL NOT diss-affiliate from the Labour party, dont know why the papers keep mentioning this?

Too many vested interests pulling the wool over the eyes of CWU mbrs.