MP slams decision to abandon plans to privatise Land Registry

Alison Seabeck, MP for Plymouth Moor View, has slammed the Coalition Government as “incompetent” after yet another U-turn, this time deciding to abandon plans to privatise the Land Registry.

Ms Seabeck has continuously raised concerns in the House of Commons about some of the potential knock-on impacts that these proposals could have had in Plymouth, many of which have been expressed to her by constituents and lobbying organisations. Unions and Solicitors have also been relentlessly campaigning against the privatisation plans.

Major concerns had emerged over the whole process after it appeared that stakeholders clearly had not been properly consulted over the plans. Stories in the press, along with a released copy of the Board’s minutes, seemed to suggest that the final option had already been chosen, despite representations being made from a very broad range of organisations including the Law Society, the PCS union, conveyancers and others involved in the use of the service.

Alison Seabeck MP said: “This is yet another embarrassment for this U-turning government. Campaigners and I have been calling for months for the Government to reconsider plans to privatise the Land Registry, potentially putting hundreds of jobs at risk in Plymouth.

“Now after causing thousands of people across the country a great deal of stress and worry, a squabble between Coalition ministers has finally resulted in the abandonment of these rushed and ill thought through plans to privatise a vital public service.”