Ed Davey intends to introduce a Postal Services Bill in the next parliamentary session

by René Lavanchy

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Backbench coalition MPs with slim majorities will be confronted over the coalition Government’s plans to sell off nearly half of Royal Mail, in a new campaign by the Communication Workers Union, Tribune has learned. The union is planning to join other parties opposed to the sale by campaigning in marginal constituencies where they think the local MP could be persuaded to defy the Government whip and vote against the plans. CWU officials hope to split the Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition by turning the policy into an issue about local services.

The news comes after postal affairs minister Ed Davey confirmed that ministers intended to introduce a Postal Services Bill in the next parliamentary session. The union expects the bill’s first reading to be as early as October. A CWU spokesperson said: “We think it’s a very unpopular policy that they’ve got; it’s not well argued and it’s not well founded. There are a lot of other organisations we’re hoping to be working with.”

The Government’s promise to keep Post Office Ltd in public hands was “totally disingenuous”, they added. “There’s an absolutely crucial link between the Royal Mail and the Post Office. Post offices rely on Royal Mail for a third of their income.” The union will argue that the privatisation plans put post offices at risk. Business Secretary Vince Cable is committed to selling a 49 per cent stake in Royal Mail to a private sector partner, while splitting the firm from Post Office Ltd to allow this.

Three current coalition MPs – Conservative Daniel Kawczynski and Lib Dems Mike Hancock and Mark Williams – signed an early day motion last year opposing part-privatisation. The plans mark a change from last year’s nationwide “Keep the Post Public” campaign, which featured a giant pillar box being towed from John O’Groats
to Land’s End.

With fewer Labour MPs at Westminster, the union is seeking to concentrate its efforts on a minority of constituencies.

Meanwhile, coalition ministers have invited Richard Hooper to update his report on the future of Royal Mail. Hooper’s original report in 2008 was the basis of the Labour Government’s part-privatisation plan.