MP Hesford threatens to quit Government post in Royal Mail row

May 13 2009 by Rob Merrick, Heswall News

WIRRAL West MP Stephen Hesford has threatened to quit the Government unless Gordon Brown backs down over selling off part of Royal Mail.

The MP threatened to sacrifice his unpaid post as a ministerial aide by voting against the Bill to hive off up to 30% of the business to a foreign postal operator.

The threat – and similar protests by up to seven other Parliamentary private secretaries (PPS) – came as Mr Brown was warned that pressing ahead with the legislation would be a “kamikaze move”.

Nearly 150 Labour MPs, including nine from Merseyside and North Cheshire, oppose the part-privatisation, warning the Royal Mail’s “universal service” is at risk. The scale of the revolt would force the PM to rely on Conservative support to win a crunch Commons vote expected early next month.

Some Labour MPs fear David Cameron would back Mr Brown at a second reading, only to withdraw support later – forcing Labour into an unwanted early election.

Mr Hesford – PPS to solicitor general Vera Baird – said: “The Government is now aware that there are matters to be debated and, hopefully, we can have that debate. If – and this is a big if – things stay precisely as they are, and there is no movement and no listening, I would be minded to vote against.”

Asked if that would mean resigning his position, Mr Hesford replied: “That would be for others to say, but if that was the consequence, that would be the consequence.”

Other MPs opposing the sell-off are: Joe Benton (Bootle), Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby), Louise Ellman (Riverside), Frank Field (Birkenhead), Peter Kilfoyle (Walton), Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston), Eddie O'Hara (Knowsley South) and Bob Wareing (Liverpool West Derby).

Ministers insist a private firm is needed to rescue Royal Mail after years of under-investment.

But Labour critics are pushing for the “universal service” – which ensures post is delivered everywhere in Britain for the same price – to be protected by creating a not-for-profit trust, similar to Network Rail.