Second-class letters could also be delivered each different day

Royal Mail ought to solely ship second class letters each different weekday to “defend” the way forward for the UK’s postal trade, the trade regulator has proposed.

Ofcom stated the Common Service Obligation (USO) should be reformed as individuals ship fewer letters yearly however stamp costs preserve rising.

The one-price-goes-anywhere USO means Royal Mail has to ship submit six days every week, from Monday to Saturday, and parcels on 5 from Monday to Friday.

Ofcom stated Royal Mail ought to proceed to ship first-class letters six days every week however second class will likely be restricted to alternate weekdays and never on Saturdays.

“The world has modified, we’re sending a 3rd of the letters we had been 20 years in the past,” stated Natalie Black, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications.

“We have to reform the postal service to guard its future and guarantee it delivers for the entire of the UK.”

The variety of letters Royal Mail delivers has fallen from a peak of 20 billion in 2004-05 to six.6 billion final 12 months.

Nevertheless, the value of stamps have continued to rise. Since 2022, Royal Mail has hiked the price of a firstclass stamp 5 occasions from 85p to £1.65.

It has additionally elevated the price of a second class stamp over the identical interval from 66p to 85p.

Ofcom stated making adjustments to second class deliveries might save the loss-making Royal Mail between £250m and £425m.

“This might allow it to enhance reliability and redeploy present sources to development areas akin to parcels,” it stated.

Royal Mail’s father or mother firm is being bought to a enterprise managed by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in a deal value £3.6bn, after the Labour authorities authorized the deal final 12 months.

The federal government will keep a “golden share” which suggests Mr Kretinsky’s enterprise should get approval for any adjustments to Royal Mail’s possession, the situation of its headquarters and its tax residency.

Royal Mail should additionally adhere to the USO, which Mr Kretinsky has pledged he’ll do for “so long as I’m alive”.