# Royal Mail faces government action over delivery failures

> Prime Minister Andy Burnham warns the postal service must improve immediately or face further measures as it continues to miss delivery targets.
- Title: Royal Mail faces government action over delivery failures
- Summary: Prime Minister Andy Burnham warns the postal service must improve immediately or face further measures as it continues to miss delivery targets. Prime…
- Keywords: royal mail, andy burnham, delivery delays, postal service, communication workers union, ofcom, politics, news, Royal, Mail, faces, government
- Source: The Independent — https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/royal-mail-delivery-delays-andy-burnham-post-b3070752.html
- Published: 2026-10-21T13:37:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: royal mail, andy burnham, delivery delays, postal service, communication workers union, ofcom, politics, news
## Burnham demands immediate improvement
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has demanded Royal Mail improve its performance immediately, warning the government will pursue further measures if it does not.
## Service record unacceptable for too long
Burnham declared Royal Mail's record had been unacceptable for far too long amid ongoing struggles to hit delivery targets for letters, causing documented instances of missed medical appointments.

> Royal Mail's service has been unacceptable for far too long.
## Union warns of collapse
The Communication Workers Union demanded an emergency summit on Royal Mail's future, warning the service was on the brink of collapse. General secretary Dave Ward called it a ticking timebomb.

> ticking timebomb
## Missing targets set by Ofcom
Royal Mail missed delivery targets in August. It delivered eighty-five percent of first-class mail the next day and ninety-one point four percent of second-class mail within three working days in the first quarter.
## Targets remain unmet despite lowering
Ofcom requires ninety percent of first-class mail delivered next day and ninety-five percent of second-class mail within three days. Ofcom lowered targets in April, but Royal Mail has still not met them.
## Investment plan and job cuts announced
Royal Mail published an improvement plan in spring committing to invest five hundred million pounds in quality of service over five years.
## Key takeaway

Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned Royal Mail it must improve service immediately or face government action, as the postal service continues missing delivery targets and causing missed medical appointments.