I met with Citizens’ Advice representatives to discuss Royal Mail’s failure to meet its 2022/23 performance target. 12.3 million people in the UK have experienced letter delays in the last month, with Streatham among the 20 worst affected constituencies. The company missed its delivery targets for four out of the last five years.

As the statutory advocate for postal services, Citizens Advice are calling for Ofcom to launch a wider, multi-year investigation into Royal Mail’s performance, a recommendation also advanced by Parliament’s Business and Trade Select Committee. Although Ofcom, the regulator, has announced an investigation into Royal Mail’s performance during the year 2022/23, this is not good enough.

The company’s recent management teams have made a very good case for taking it back into public ownership. I would urge Ofcom to take stronger enforcement action as a regulator and investigate Royal Mail’s performance across multiple years, while also accepting evidence directly from postal workers. It’s also vital that they look into Business and Trade Select Committee allegations that that Royal Mail has systematically deprioritised letters.