Responding to the initial findings of the independent review of the postal sector, Progressive Vision, the classical liberal think tank, has said that Royal Mail should be sold off in order to fully realize the benefits of market liberalization.

Mark Littlewood, communications director of Progressive Vision, said: "It's not enough for Royal Mail to be subject to competition from other companies. It needs to be sold off completely.

" It is an antiquated, slothenly, unimaginative and creaking institution. Without the full rigors of market discipline, Royal Mail will fail to adapt to the realities of modern communications.

"It is also high time that the principle of universal service was challenged. Email and the internet have spread like wildfire.

"It surely cannot be necessary to guarantee postal deliveries six days a week to every property in the country - however isolated and remote.

"The universal service obligation is typical of an industry in which old rules go unquestioned and new technologies are often ignored."

Progressive Vision is a classical liberal think tank, arguing for less government intervention in economic and social affairs.

9:00am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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