The future of our Post Office network is under threat. The Labour Government has launched a consultation that could scrap the legal requirement to maintain at least 11,500 branches across the UK – a Conservative safeguard that has kept the network stable for the past 15 years.
If this rule is removed, the size of the network would be left to the discretion of the Post Office itself, with ministers suggesting a “smaller” system might be “better suited to market trends.” In practice, this opens the door to mass closures, particularly in rural and coastal counties like Lincolnshire.
Why This Matters
Post Offices aren’t just places to post a parcel. They are:
- Essential for pensioners who rely on them for payments and everyday banking.
- A lifeline for rural communities where other services have already been lost.
- Vital to small businesses that depend on local, affordable parcel services.
Removing the minimum network safeguard would put all this at risk – just to cut costs.
A Step Backwards
At the start of the millennium, there were nearly 18,400 Post Offices in the UK. By 2023, that number had already fallen to just over 11,600. The coalition government put a stop to this decline in 2010 by introducing the 11,500-branch requirement. Now, Labour are consulting on removing it.
Dame Harriett Baldwin, Conservative shadow business minister, has rightly warned that Labour’s plan “threatens the future of branches nationwide” and puts “vital services at risk – especially for pensioners, rural communities, and small businesses who rely on them most.”
What This Means for Lincolnshire
With our vast rural areas and ageing population, Lincolnshire would be among the hardest hit by any reduction in Post Office numbers. Residents could face longer journeys, reduced access to essential services, and yet another blow to the fabric of village life.
We believe this is unacceptable.
Join Our Campaign
We are calling on Lincolnshire residents to stand with us and send a clear message to ministers: Do not scrap the safeguard. Protect our Post Offices.
Join our campaign and make your voice heard by signing our petition at https://www.whatlaboursaid.com/save-your-post-office.
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