Government ‘open to post ideas’

The British government is open to alternatives to selling off part of the Royal Mail, Labour chief whip Nick Brown has said.

The British government is open to alternatives to selling off part of the Royal Mail, Labour chief whip Nick Brown has said.

Brown said Royal Mail had to be modernised but said the government was “still listening” if people had ideas for “other ways of raising the money”.

With 140 Labour MPs opposing the part-privatisation plan, he said he hoped he would not have to rely on Tory votes.

But he said it would be “completely irresponsible” not to act to deal with the pension fund and regulatory regime.

Brown told reporters in Westminster: “The programme itself is already under way. It has a further two years to go. It needs a further cash injection to keep it going.

“We do need a bill. It is not possible to deal with the problems without sorting out the pension fund, without dealing with the problems of the regulatory regime.

“The government is still listening. If someone has a better idea, go to Peter Mandelson and tell him what it is.”

A Communication Workers Union spokesman said there was “a better idea and it involves keeping Royal Mail wholly publicly owned”.

He added: “While we welcome progress on modernisation, government responsibility on pensions, and changes to the regulatory regime, there is no logical argument for privatisation.

“Royal Mail can and must remain a successful public service. We will be presenting our ideas to Peter Mandelson and welcome news from the chief whip that the government is listening.”