This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7911526.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Royal Mail sell-off plan unveiled | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Full details of Lord Mandelson's plan to sell a 30% stake in the Royal Mail have been published by the government. | |
| The proposals are aimed at modernising the service and supporting its pension fund which is believed to be facing a deficit of £8bn. | |
| Postal unions are opposed to the plans while more than 130 Labour MPs have publicly called for a rethink. | Postal unions are opposed to the plans while more than 130 Labour MPs have publicly called for a rethink. |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he would listen to concerns about the plans but would not "duck" the issue. | |
| 'Door is open' | 'Door is open' |
| But in a letter to the Guardian, the leaders of Labour's eight largest affiliated unions attacked the plans as "electorally unpopular, politically unwise and damaging to the concept of universal service provision". | |
| They also accuse the ministers of breaking an agreement between the government and the trade union movement in the summer of 2008 to keep the service in public ownership. | They also accuse the ministers of breaking an agreement between the government and the trade union movement in the summer of 2008 to keep the service in public ownership. |
| Lord Mandelson, writing in the Daily Mirror, admitted that he knew the issue was "politically different" but was determined to confront it head on. | Lord Mandelson, writing in the Daily Mirror, admitted that he knew the issue was "politically different" but was determined to confront it head on. |
| There was angry condemnation of the plans at a union rally on Tuesday | There was angry condemnation of the plans at a union rally on Tuesday |
| "My door is open and I will listen to these concerns," he said. | "My door is open and I will listen to these concerns," he said. |
| "But we face a choice. We either let Royal Mail drift and do nothing. Or we take action to secure the universal postal service for the customer and secure the pensions of Royal Mail employees." | "But we face a choice. We either let Royal Mail drift and do nothing. Or we take action to secure the universal postal service for the customer and secure the pensions of Royal Mail employees." |
| Ministers may make a statement in Parliament outlining government policy after the bill's publication. | Ministers may make a statement in Parliament outlining government policy after the bill's publication. |
| Opponents say the plans break a Labour manifesto commitment to keep Royal Mail in public hands. | Opponents say the plans break a Labour manifesto commitment to keep Royal Mail in public hands. |
| The government says the company will remain under public ownership while benefitting from much-needed investment and added expertise that a private sector partner would bring. | The government says the company will remain under public ownership while benefitting from much-needed investment and added expertise that a private sector partner would bring. |
| As part of its reform package, the government government also intends to take on responsibility for the pension scheme, whose deficit is believed to be about £8bn. | As part of its reform package, the government government also intends to take on responsibility for the pension scheme, whose deficit is believed to be about £8bn. |
| 'New provision' | 'New provision' |
| More than 130 Labour MPs - including a reported 11 parliamentary private secretaries - have signed a Commons motion rejecting the plan, saying it threatens Royal Mail's future. | More than 130 Labour MPs - including a reported 11 parliamentary private secretaries - have signed a Commons motion rejecting the plan, saying it threatens Royal Mail's future. |
| Downing Street has denied reports the rebellion has spread to the cabinet, saying there was no differences of opinion in the Cabinet about the substance of the bill. | Downing Street has denied reports the rebellion has spread to the cabinet, saying there was no differences of opinion in the Cabinet about the substance of the bill. |
| Introducing the bill on Wednesday, Lord Mandelson told peers the bill would "make provision for the restructuring of the Royal Mail Group and of the Royal Mail pension plan". | Introducing the bill on Wednesday, Lord Mandelson told peers the bill would "make provision for the restructuring of the Royal Mail Group and of the Royal Mail pension plan". |
| It would also "make new provision about the regulation of postal services", he said. | It would also "make new provision about the regulation of postal services", he said. |
| But while doing so, he was heckled by Lord Clarke, deputy general secretary of the postal workers' union in the 1980s. | But while doing so, he was heckled by Lord Clarke, deputy general secretary of the postal workers' union in the 1980s. |
| The bill's first reading was essentially a formality which allows it to be printed so peers and MPs can see the proposals in detail. | The bill's first reading was essentially a formality which allows it to be printed so peers and MPs can see the proposals in detail. |
| It will be debated in full at its second reading - expected on 10 March. | It will be debated in full at its second reading - expected on 10 March. |