STORY
The UK Government has today launched a comprehensive review into the future of the Post Office, inviting postmasters and customers to help shape its direction for the next decade. This marks the first such in-depth examination in 15 years and comes in the wake of significant challenges, including the Horizon IT scandal and evolving consumer behaviours. The “Post Office Green Paper,” published on 14 July 2025, aims to usher in a “decade of renewal” for the vital national institution. It seeks to transform the organisation’s culture and ensure its continued relevance in a rapidly changing world. Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas emphasised the need for a fresh vision, stating, “This Green Paper marks the start of an honest conversation about what people want and need from their Post Office in the years ahead.”
A 12-week public consultation, open until 6 October 2025, will gather views on several key areas. These include how Post Office services should adapt to meet changing consumer needs, ways to strengthen the relationship between the Post Office and its postmasters, and options for modernising the network while ensuring services remain locally accessible. The consultation will also explore how the Post Office can improve and develop its banking services. The review acknowledges the Post Office’s enduring importance, with research published alongside the Green Paper highlighting its social value of approximately £5.2 billion per year to households and £1.3 billion annually to small and medium-sized businesses. Despite a decline in traditional postal services and a rise in online transactions, the Post Office has seen growth in areas such as bank deposits and parcel drop-offs.
To support this transformation, Ministers have announced a proposed new subsidy package of up to £118 million. This funding will support the Post Office’s Transformation Plan and further investment in the network, protecting key services like access to cash and government services, and helping to deliver cost-saving measures. Neil Brocklehurst, Post Office Chief Executive, described this as a “once-in-a-decade opportunity” for a national conversation about the role of post offices in communities across the UK. The Post Office will also be launching a survey in partnership with the National Federation of SubPostmasters, the Voice of the Postmaster, and the Communication Workers Union to gather further input. The government is also considering changes to the Post Office’s ownership structure, including the possibility of a mutual model that could hand ownership to its thousands of subpostmasters. This comprehensive review aims to rebuild trust, embed a culture of transparency and accountability, and ensure the Post Office remains at the heart of communities for generations to come.