Reform Royal Mail urged instead of privatisation

Feb 26 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

A LEADING left-wing think tank has urged the Government to consider giving Royal Mail “the BBC treatment”. Compass is hoping to convince ministers that Royal Mail could be modernised without resorting to privatisation.

They point to the success of public institutions such as the BBC or Network Rail as examples of why the Government does not have to sell off Royal Mail.

It comes after the Commercial Workers’ Union told The Journal that the Dutch firm looking to take over postal services would put rural deliveries at risk.

The TNT group is said to deliver just twice a week in some of the more remote parts of the Netherlands.

Now Compass is hoping opposition groups will unite around a plan to protect the long term future of the universal service.

They have decided to release a publication later this week challenging the findings of last year’s Hooper report which recommended selling off part of Royal Mail.

The much-criticised report paved the way for the Government’s part-privatisation plans which went before the House of Lords yesterday.