Royal Mail

Contentious plans published on Thursday morning to sell a stake of about 30 per cent in Royal Mail to a private sector rival are the “only credible option” to save the state-owned postal operator, the government asserted, as ministers tried to head off a mounting Labour rebellion. More: continued here

The government could sell a 30 percent stake in Royal Mail under plans to restructure the state-owned postal services firm, the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) said on Thursday. More: continued here

Union boss blasts Royal Mail privatisation plansWeston & Somerset Mercury, UKAs part of the purchase, Royal Mail's pension deficit, thought to stand at £5.9billion, would be taken over by the Government. Business ministers say modernisation is needed in areas such as sorting, of which 85 per cent is done by machines …

The Government today pressed ahead with its controversial plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail but tried to head off growing criticism by pledging to enshrine in law that the organisation would remain publicly owned. More: continued here

Lord Mandelson publishes controversial plans to sell-off part of Royal Mail which he says will save a universal postal service. More: continued here

Lord Mandelson plans to rush through the sell-off of Royal Mail within months in the face of Cabinet opposition, it emerged today. More: continued here

Lord Mandelson the Business Secretary said the Government’s plan to partprivatise the Royal Mail was the only option to save the service. More: continued here

Prime Minister Gordon Brown risked a confrontation with unions and supporters on Thursday with a plan that could lead to the sale of 30 percent of Royal Mail. More: continued here

Partial privatization of Royal Mail proposedInternational Herald Tribune, FranceBy Simon Marks Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain announced legislation Thursday to put up to 30 percent of the Royal Mail in the hands of investors, part of a plan to raise capital to modernize the government-owned postal service. … More: continued …

Union threatens to cut its aid to Labour over Royal Mail rowTimes Online, UKThe Labour Party will lose the support of the postal workers’ union in the forthcoming European elections if it fails to back down over the part-privatisation of the Royal Mail. Gordon Brown, who is already preparing for defeat …