Royal Mail investigating claims that postal worker ‘binned Reform UK election leaflets’ | Royal Mail
Royal Mail is investigating allegations that a postal worker allegedly “threw” UK Reform campaign leaflets into the bin ahead of Thursday’s local elections.
A post on the Royal Mail staff Facebook group read: “I had the reform party’s D2D on my DO today. I threw it all in a bin. They might fire me! Idgaf!”
“DO” is short for delivery office, “D2D” is short for door-to-door or unaddressed advertising mail, and “IDGAF” stands for “I don’t care.”
The message was shared on a private Facebook group with 30,000 members called Royal Mail Chat. It is not known which part of the United Kingdom it covers.
A legal representative from Reform UK wrote a letter of complaint to Royal Mail’s chief executive, Alistair Cochrane, stating that the screenshot was distributed on Saturday.
Royal Mail said it “played a pivotal role in the election” and that “we take our responsibilities very seriously and will not tolerate deliberate non-delivery of mail”.
He added: “We are investigating this allegation and remain committed to providing an impartial presentation for all candidates.”
Reform leader Nigel Farage said of X: “It is true that @RoyalMail has launched a full investigation into this allegation.
“If found to be true, this would be deeply disturbing and an attack on the democratic process itself.”
Reform demanded an “immediate and comprehensive internal investigation” within three days of its letter dated Saturday and a full written statement, as well as compensation measures. “Royal Mail proposes to make an offer to Reform UK for the loss and disruption caused by this incident.”
The party also wants to confirm that appropriate disciplinary action “including collective dismissal” has been or will be taken “against any employee found to have participated in or condoned the destruction of materials”.
It called for written assurances that future Reform campaign deliveries “will be prioritized, appropriately monitored and protected against any duplication”.
The legal representative said of the Facebook post: “This admission provides clear prima facie evidence that Reform UK’s door-to-door campaign materials entrusted to Royal Mail were deliberately destroyed or not delivered.
“Such behavior constitutes a deliberate breach of Royal Mail’s legal and contractual obligations to deliver impartial and efficient mail and publications.
“It also undermines the democratic process and the legal right of Reformation UK to participate in political campaigns.”
The Facebook group is open to Royal Mail employees and partners, as well as members of the Communications Workers Union, a union that includes postal delivery workers.
