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Anger over Royal Mail Bill delay
Opponents of the Government's controversial plan to part-privatise the Royal Mail were angered yesterday when an expected date for a Commons reading of the Bill paving the way for the partial sale was not included in a Parliamentary business timetable.
The second reading of the Postal Services Bill was expected as early as next week, but there was no mention of it in business announced up to June 23.
A spokesman for the Business Department said a date for the Bill's passage was still being fixed for this month.
But Labour MPs who are against the sell-off said they feared the lack of a definite date for the Commons debate was aimed at taking some of the steam out of the opposition.
Almost 150 Labour backbenchers, including former Cabinet Minister Peter Hain, have signed a motion attacking the plan to sell off around a third of the Royal Mail.
The strength of feeling within Labour ranks will be made clear when the Bill, which allows Ministers to sell off up to 49 per cent of the firm, has its second reading in the Commons.
The motion, which has the support of 181 MPs from all parties, says that selling a minority stake in Royal Mail "would risk fracturing one of Britain's greatest public services".
Meanwhile the Communication Workers' union wrote to all Labour MPs reaffirming its view that the only reasonable policy was to ensure Royal Mail was transformed in the public sector.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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