Ministers challenged over UK Post Office chief

The Government was today challenged over the appointment of Post Office chairman Allan Leighton.

Opening a debate on the Royal Mail, former postman and ex-union officer Labour’s Lord Clarke of Hampstead told trade and industry minister Lord Sainsbury of Turville the issue “concerns the method of selecting Mr Leighton for the job”.

He told peers: “Two years ago I was told by a very reliable friend, who actually knew what was going on and witnessed it, that when the short list was prepared and presented to the board, Mr Leighton’s name was not on that list.

“The information I received … said that a call was made from the DTI to the board to have Mr Leighton’s name added.

He asked: “Is what I have just said factual? I don’t expect a reply today. But I would certainly like a reply in writing at some stage so that at least if my information is wrong the myth can be dispelled but if it is right somebody should say something about what happened.

“It’s important to know about the appointment of a chairman and if assurances were given to him about what he could do with the Post Office.

“For some time now we have had the chairman of the Post Office talking at almost every opportunity about how he wants a share-based scheme, a shared ownership.”

He added: “We have a Government pledge that there will not be a sale of the shares of the Post Office. The Labour Party conference decision was that no sale should take place.

“There’s a manifesto commitment that the Post Office will not be sold off.”

He said last month 210 MPs – 195 of them Labour – signed an early day motion opposing any form of shares.

Lord Clarke said underinvestment and better training and pay to attract good quality staff to the Post Office should be addressed urgently.

Employers and unions should sit down together and plan the future,

“They need to strain every sinew to meet the challenges of competition, liberalisation and to build for the future. The British public and the business community deserve nothing less,” added Lord Clarke.