In his regular column for the Sussex newspapers, Andrew Griffith discusses concerns about the Royal Mail delivery service.
The MP warned that Britain’s postal service was becoming “a source of growing public frustration”, particularly for elderly and vulnerable residents and those living in rural parts of West Sussex who rely heavily on reliable postal deliveries.
Mr Griffith pointed to a recent report by the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee, which concluded that “Royal Mail’s current level of service is not acceptable” and warned that public confidence had been badly damaged.
However, the MP stressed that frontline postal workers themselves should not be blamed. Mr Griffith said many local “posties” worked extremely hard and noted that he had visited sorting offices and accompanied postal workers on their rounds since becoming a Member of Parliament.
Highlighting the scale of the issue, Mr Griffith noted that despite the high cost of First Class post, only 74.9 per cent of mail arrived the next day between April 2025 and January 2026 — significantly below the required target.
The MP warned that the consequences were particularly serious for rural communities, where many residents still depend on physical post because digital alternatives remain unreliable or inaccessible. He noted that broadband and mobile coverage remained inconsistent in parts of the countryside, while many local bank branches, GP surgeries and public services had increasingly moved online or disappeared altogether.
Mr Griffith said that for many vulnerable residents, missing important correspondence such as NHS appointment letters or benefits notifications could have profound consequences, particularly for those already dealing with ill health, mobility challenges or isolation.
The MP also criticised Ofcom following criticism in the committee’s report, which concluded that the regulator was “failing as the statutory regulator of the postal service” and had not delivered the “step change” needed to improve performance.
Concluding, Mr Griffith said that while postal services may no longer dominate daily life as they once did, they remained a lifeline for millions across Britain. He added that reliable post was “not an outdated luxury” but remains an essential service for rural communities and vulnerable residents alike.
