Doubts about the political viability of Lord Mandelson’s plans to part-privatise Royal Mail are spreading through government, as the recent bout of Labour indiscipline underlines the political risks of confronting backbenchers.
The business secretary’s team are “proceeding as planned” with the core proposal to sell a 30 per cent stake in the state-owned postal operator to a foreign rival, which MPs are due to vote on before the summer.
