Sub-postmasters 'oppose sell-off'

SUB-POSTMASTERS and mistresses are firmly against proposals to privatise their businesses, a poll showed yesterday. Eight out of 10 said keeping the Post Office together in the public sector - but with greater commercial freedom - was the best option for the future of their businesses, according to the MORI survey conducted for the Union of Communication Workers.

Just over half - 51 per cent - were against Board of Trade president Michael Heseltine's plan to separate the Counters network from Royal Mail and Parcelforce. Four out of 10 of those surveyed said they believed prices would go up and post offices would close under the plan.