Wednesday 21st October 2026

(1 day, 23 hours ago)

Westminster Hall
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Sorcha Eastwood Portrait Sorcha Eastwood
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I absolutely agree. I may be pre-empting the conclusion of my remarks, but I think that is something we all now have to consider.

Royal Mail is more than simply a postal service. It is the red pillar box and the wee red van going up and down country lanes to our small family farm. It is more than just a letter.

Helen Grant Portrait Helen Grant (Maidstone and Malling) (Con)
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I congratulate the hon. Lady on bringing us a really important debate. This issue is clearly affecting us all, and Royal Mail is certainly also badly failing constituents in my Kent constituency. I feel the affection for our posties, which she touched on when she spoke about the red post boxes and so on; Royal Mail should be a national treasure, but it is not. My concern is that the situation is getting worse, not better. Royal Mail has been fined £37 million for poor performance in recent years, and there is an Ofcom investigation. Many of us feel that Royal Mail is not fit for purpose and that no change is happening, so does she agree that the Government need to do more by taking enforcement action and putting some more pressure on the leadership?