Royal Mail sell-off plans may be delayed

Government plans to sell off a stake in Royal Mail may be delayed, it was reported today.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he wanted the plan to go ahead before the next election but it was being "jostled" for space in the legislative programme.

He told the Financial Times the depressed state of the economy was another reason for delaying legislation.

He said: "I want to retain the slot, but... I have to concede that the original linking of the legislative passage and the bidding process for the strategic partner has been decoupled."