Brown rejects Rowen's post office plea

A nervous-looking Prime Minister yesterday rejected Rochdale MP Paul Rowen's plea to make a U-turn on plans to part-privatise the Post Office.

Gordon Brown insisted that Royal Mail needs new investment and ministers have invited bids from outside parties.

Paul Rowen questioned the plans during Prime Minister’s Question Time and asked for Mr Brown to reconsider the bill, which is currently passing through the parliamentary process.

The Prime Minister was barracked by other members of the house while he gave his answer. He finished his speech by saying :"The fact is, we have got to get new investment into the Royal Mail and that is why we have invited outside parties to express their interest."

Speaking after PMQs, Paul Rowen said: “The Prime Minister was clearly flustered by my question. It is becoming increasingly obvious that in a time of economic crisis no one will want to take on the task of running Royal Mail.

"Successive governments, Labour and Conservative, have failed to support the Post Office network - allowing thousands of local branches to close - and have failed to equip Royal Mail to compete effectively in a 21st century postal market.

"The recent round of Post Office closures in Rochdale only goes to show that not enough has been done to support our Post Office Network. By selling part of it off, the Post Office is effectively getting rid of many of its public service commitments.

"Like our transport system, private operators will end up putting profit before people and this will inevitably lead to more of our valued Post Offices closing.”