Isles lead way in fight against Royal Mail cuts

Local business owner, Janet Ross-Jordan, is rallying the people in the Western Isles to sign the petition to speak against the Royal Mail cuts with an online petition.

The Western Isles are making their voices heard, with the highest percentage of signatures in the UK calling for greater scrutiny of Royals Mail’s proposed service changes.

This national campaign, led by the Greeting Card Association (GCA), has struck a chord with residents of the remote islands, where reliable postal services are a lifeline for both businesses and communities.

Janet Ross-Jordan owns Cards and Gift Wrap, an independent shop in the Western Isles specialising in cards and letter-writing materials. Committed to keeping the tradition of handwritten communication alive, Cards and Gift Wrap has been at the forefront of encouraging customers to sign the petition.

She says: “As someone who’s passionate about keeping the joy of sending and receiving cards alive, I know how important it is to protect Royal Mail’s vital role in connecting us – especially in places like the Western Isles, where we rely on it so much.”

The government recently responded to the GCA petition, acknowledging Royal Mail’s failed to meet its legal obligations and stressing the importance of a postal service that works for customers, workers, and businesses.

However, the response has not been entirely hopeful, with MPs stating that cuts to the service do not need Parliamentary approval, making it even more crucial to push for a date.

Janet said: “This issue isn’t just about delivery times – it’s about preserving the magic of written communication and ensuring people here can continue to send love, thanks, and good wishes through the post.”

Despite being the smallest constituency, the Western Isles have the second highest number of signatories, with 80 recorded as of today, Monday 28 April.

With the Western Isles leading the charge, Janet is urging even more people to sign the petition and help trigger a Parliamentary debate.

She shared that the strong support from the community has been uplifting and encouraging, but emphasised that more people need to get involved in order to create any real change.

For Janet, the issue is personal. As someone balancing the challenges of running a small business on a remote island, reliable postal services are essential.

She said, “Living here means you have to work with the weather, the remoteness, and the challenges. But the joy of sending and receiving cards is something that connects us all, no matter where we are.”

The petition has already gained over 16,900 signatures and needs continued support to ensure Parliament take action.

To learn more about the campaign and to sign the petition, visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/701850