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MP Chris Bloore and MP Dave Robertson are leading the cross-party push to apply for a Backbench Business debate in the House of Commons on the growing crisis in postal services and persistent failures by Royal Mail.
The application, already backed by 60 MPs from across political parties, reflects widespread concern about delays, missed deliveries and poor service standards affecting communities nationwide – with rural and semi-rural areas such as Redditch and the surrounding villages particularly hard hit.
The move follows sustained campaigning by Chris Bloore after residents in Inkberrow and nearby villages reported going days and in some cases, weeks without receiving post.
Constituents have raised serious concerns about NHS appointment letters arriving late or after scheduled dates, vital documents going missing and bills being delivered after payment deadlines.
Bloore has taken a series of steps locally and nationally, including meetings with Royal Mail, engagement with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), a formal letter to postal regulator Ofcom and support for a local petition demanding urgent improvements to services in Inkberrow.
Bloore has received more than 200 complaints from Inkberrow residents alone, despite repeated assurances from Royal Mail that services would improve.
MP Chris Bloore said: “Week after week, residents are telling me the same thing: no post for days or weeks at a time. That means missed NHS appointments, late hospital letters and vital paperwork arriving too late to be useful.
“This is not a minor inconvenience – it is a serious failure of a basic public service people depend on.
“This is no longer just a local problem. MPs from across the country are hearing identical stories from their constituents. That is why we are pushing for a full Commons debate to hold Royal Mail and the regulator to account and demand urgent action.”
The cross-party push is being coordinated by Chris Bloore MP and Dave Robertson MP for Lichfield, with strong support from MPs representing both urban and rural constituencies.
The proposed Backbench Business debate would allow MPs to press ministers, Royal Mail and Ofcom on how they intend to restore reliable postal services and enforce Royal Mail’s universal service obligations.
Issues expected to be raised include the impact on vulnerable residents, enforcement action by Ofcom and how a dependable service can be guaranteed for villages and harder-to-serve communities.
MP Dave Robertson said: “People pay for a postal service they can rely on and that is not what they are getting.
“By bringing together MPs from all parties, this debate application sends a clear message: these failures are widespread, they are unacceptable and they must be fixed.
“I will keep pushing, locally and nationally, until we see real accountability and lasting improvements.”
