Battle for the Royal Mail's future

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Last Modified: 24 Feb 2009
By: Jenny Wivell

Postal workers protest as the government says a partial sell off is the only way to save their pensions.

Postal workers are demonstrating in Westminster this lunchtime against government plans to sell off one third of the Royal Mail.

But the government insists that selling off 30 per cent of the Royal Mail is the only way to protect the pension scheme, which its trustees reportedly say is massively in deficit.

The row has been intensified by the publication of a letter warning staff that they face having their pensions slashed unless the part-privatisation goes ahead.

But with more than 140 Labour MPs set to vote against the plans, Gordon Brown may face the largest rebellion of his premiership over the measure.



Pat McFadden

Samira Ahmed is joined from Westminster by the postal affairs minister, Pat McFadden.