Hewitt confirms Corbett departure from UK Postcomm
Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt yesterday confirmed plans, revealed earlier this week in The Guardian, to end Graham Corbett’s reign as postal regulator.
She will start a search for a successor immediately and will seek someone with industry experience – which Mr Corbett did not have – in a move to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Mr Corbett, who introduced competition to the postal markets but antagonised Royal Mail and many Labour politicians by pushing it through faster than in any other European country, could stay on for as long as 12 months to ensure that the right successor is found .
Ms Hewitt praised Mr Corbett for his “groundbreaking” work and said that his remaining in the post for the time being would “offer the necessary stability whilst we find the right person (to replace him)”.
Postcomm insisted that 68-year-old Mr Corbett had never wanted another three year term. “It’s pretty straight forward, it’s what we expected,” added a spokesman.
The Communication Workers Union said it was delighted to have a change of regime which it believed offered the opportunity to usher in a new era.
The Royal Mail declined to comment on the move but chairman Allan Leighton has, in the past, made it clear that he wanted Mr Corbett removed.
(c) The Guardian
