by Keith Richmond
THE Communication Workers Union believes it may be on the brink of an historic victory in its campaign to keep the Royal Mail in the public sector.
Labour MPs are furious about Government plans for a package of job cuts, depot closures and part privatisation of the popular public service – almost 140 have signed an early day motion condemning the move – and now a couple of Tories have joined in, too.
Conservative MPs Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham) and Edward Timpson (Crewe & Nantwich), voted against the opposition day motion calling for partial privatisation and then abstained on the Government amendment. It’s the first time they have defied their party – and a three-line whip. Last October, Mr Timpson spoke at a CWU rally in Crewe and attacked the Royal Mail for its plans to transfer 460 jobs from his Crewe constituency to Warrington.
Billy Hayes, the union’s general secretary, said: “It’s good to see MPs from other major parties opposing unpopular and damaging privatisation proposals. This issue gets to the heart of all politicians in every party. Their constituents will not support the privatisation of Royal Mail – and they will hold their MPs to account.”
Peter Mandelson, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, believes that partial privatisation of the postal service is the way forward. He warmly welcomed the Hooper report, telling the House of Lords: “We intend to take forward the recommendations as a coherent package.”
But the CWU and many backbench Labour MPs are totally committed to opposing privatisation. They think it’s a “dreadful double whammy” – that it won’t work in
practice and will be electorally extremely unpopular – and are determined to vote against the measure.
The Chief Whip, Nick Brown, has warned Prime Minister Gordon Brown that the arithmetic is against them and it would be politically foolish to provoke a big backbench rebellion in the months leading up to a general election.
Mr Hayes said: “There is no convincing argument for privatisation. We question the Government’s proposal to privatise the profit and nationalise the debt. Part-privatisation would undermine this valued public service and mean rises in stamp prices and a deterioration in service.”
Deputy general secretary Dave Ward added: “Royal Mail is a profitable public company with a dedicated workforce and unmatched public trust. Why gamble this away on an unpopular and unproven part sell off? A huge majority of the public is against this idea. It’s time MPs listened to their constituents and scrapped this disastrous plan.”
