Trade unions sound the alarm on postal vote delays ahead of Scottish Parliament vote.

The SNP has said the UK Labour Government must step in to sort out Royal Mail delays ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

The call comes after STUC leader Roz Foyer warned of the ‘perilous’ state of postal services while the CWU warned delays were a ‘threat’ to the poll.

The CWU says dissatisfaction is at a high with 21% of new starts in Scotland leaving within 90 days, while morale is at an “all-time low”.

Royal Mail only delivered 77% of First-Class mail on time and 92.5% of Second-Class mail on time between April 2024 and March 2025 – posing a potential threat to the timely delivery of election materials and postal ballots.

Despite Royal Mail being privatised by the Lib Dems when they were in coalition, the UK government retains a “golden share” and is responsible for enforcing legally binding undertakings to protect service standards and jobs.

Commenting, Emma Roddick MSP said:

“Postal workers are sounding the alarm on Royal Mail and it’s time the UK Government got a grip and sorted it out.

“What we’re seeing is unprecedented delays in the postal service – that hampers the delivery of time-sensitive election materials and postal votes. This is of particular concern in the Highlands.

Emma Roddick MSP joins a Royal Mail postie on an Inverness delivery round in 2025.

“I know how incredible our local posties are: this is not their fault.  But if the UK Government fails to value them properly, providing support and a functioning workforce with healthy pay, terms, and conditions, we will lose them.

“This is a consequence of privatising the postal service which was driven by Lib Dem ministers Vince Cable and Norman Lamb when they were in power with the Conservatives. The SNP was against it from the start and now we see the democratic process is under threat.

“The UK Labour government must now intervene in Royal Mail to ensure a proper and fair election on the 7th of May.”