Today in Parliament, I spoke in a debate on Royal Mail and the future of the Universal Service Obligation. Royal Mail’s staff are essential workers, and they deliver a vital service to millions up and down the country.

The Government must ask serious questions of Royal Mail’s management, and their request to reduce their service obligation. Also under question is the management’s handling of the current industrial dispute.

Royal Mail’s essential workers should not have been driven to taking industrial action, and the Government must ensure their management remain at the negotiating table to offer the Communication Workers’ Union and their members a fairer deal.