Only three-quarters of first class mail delivered on time

Royal Mail delivered only 75.7% of first class letters on time in the year to March, falling far short of its 93% target [1]. The performance comes as the postal service operates under new private ownership. The company’s second class service also missed its mark, with 90.2% of letters delivered within three working days against a target of 98.5% [1]. Royal Mail aims to reach new, reduced targets of 90% for first class and 95% for second class by next year [1]. Chief operating officer Jamie Stephenson stated the firm is "putting significant investment into improving reliability" but cautioned that "delivering lasting change across a network of this scale takes time" [1]. The postal service, which provides mail collection and delivery throughout the UK and generally aims for next-day first class delivery, has been under foreign ownership since April 2025 [2]. Its new owner, Daniel Kretinsky's EP Group, acquired parent company International Distribution Services for £3.6 billion [2]. The firm has faced regulatory pressure, with communications watchdog Ofcom fining it £21m in October for missing previous targets [1]. Citizens Advice, an independent British organisation that provides consumer advice and campaigns on policy issues, criticised the ongoing poor performance [6]. Policy director Tom MacInnes called it "business as usual" and noted people would have to wait another year for the company to meet its lowered targets [1]. In response to past allegations from postal workers that parcels were being prioritised over letters, Kretinsky told MPs he had "never heard any instruction or discussion" that would sanction such a practice [1]. As part of a reform plan agreed with Ofcom, Royal Mail will scrap second class Saturday deliveries [1].