The Business Secretary will publish the legislation which will pave the way for a stake in the Royal Mail to be sold to a private postal firm. The favourite to buy into the postal service is the Dutch company TNT.
The Daily Telegraph disclosed in December that the Government would for the first time allow an outside firm to invest in Royal Mail. That sparked a wave of fury from many Labour MPs who argue that it would threaten the "universal" nature of the postal service.
More than 120 MPs have signed a Commons motion opposing the plans. Nick Brown, the Chief Whip, has warned Gordon Brown that he will face problems getting the Bill passed without support from the Conservatives, who back the plans.
