Weston MP Challenges Royal Mail Executive Over Reports of Hidden Post

Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare and member of the Business and Trade Select Committee, has challenged senior leadership at Royal Mail over serious concerns about declining service and reports of staff being told to hide undelivered post.

During a Parliamentary evidence session, Dan directly questioned Alistair Cochrane Chief Executive Officer of Royal Mail, raising concerns from frontline postal workers about pressure on staff and reports that some may have been told to deliberately delay deliveries.

Drawing on his own visit to a local sorting office in Weston-super-Mare, Dan highlighted the constant “crisis mode” many workers feel they are operating under, with pressure to prioritiseparcels over letters and an ongoing sense that workloads are unmanageable. Adding, his constituents contacted his office about missed NHS appointment letters, having a huge knock-oneffect.

Dan Aldridge MP said;

“From what I’ve seen in my local sorting office, staff feel like they’re constantly in crisis mode, like they’re never going to get the job done.

I have heard reports that some postal workers feel they are being told to deliberately fail mail, even when they are willing to deliver it.

That’s incredibly concerning. This isn’t just about targets and numbers, it’s about the reality on the ground and the pressure staff are under.”

The intervention comes as new figures show just 74.9% of First Class mail is being delivered on time - far below the 93% target - with around 126 million First Class letters arriving late this year.

Dan added;

“People in Weston rely on the postal service every day. We need honesty, accountability and a system that works, for customers and for the staff doing their best under pressure.”

The Committee’s Chair, Liam Byrne, has warned that falling standards are impacting families and businesses across the country.

Dan’s intervention forms part of ongoing scrutiny to hold Royal Mail to account and ensure it delivers the reliable service communities expect.

MPs also raised concerns about ongoing changes to the Universal Service Obligation (USO), which guarantees a “one price goes anywhere” service. Reforms announced by Ofcom would see Second Class deliveries reduced to alternate weekdays, alongside more relaxed delivery targets - changes that have sparked concern among customers and postal workers alike.

The Committee’s Chair, Liam Byrne, described Royal Mail as a “national institution in meltdown” and warned that falling standards are impacting families and businesses across the country.

The scrutiny forms part of the Committee’s ongoing work to hold major companies to account and ensure essential services are delivered fairly and effectively for communities like Weston-super-Mare.