Royal Mail is investigating allegations that a postal worker claimed to have thrown away Reform UK campaign leaflets in a bin ahead of local elections scheduled for 7 May. The claim surfaced in a private Facebook group for Royal Mail staff, where a post read: "My DO had reform party’s D2D today. I dumped them all in a bin. They can sack me! Idgaf!" The acronyms used include "DO" for delivery office, "D2D" for door-to-door or unaddressed advertising mail, and "IDGAF" meaning "I don’t give a f**k."
The message was posted to the Royal Mail Chat Facebook group, which has approximately 30,000 members. It remains unclear which part of the United Kingdom the incident involved. A Reform UK legal representative sent a letter of complaint to Alistair Cochrane, the chief executive of Royal Mail, noting that the screenshot of the post was circulated on Saturday.
Royal Mail responded by stating that it "plays a crucial role in elections" and that it takes its responsibility "very seriously and do not tolerate the deliberate non-delivery of mail." The company added: "We are investigating this allegation and remain committed to impartial delivery for all candidates."
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, commented on X: "It is right that @RoyalMail have launched a full investigation into this allegation. If found to be true, it would be very disturbing and an attack on the democratic process itself." Reform UK has demanded an "immediate and thorough internal investigation" within three days of its letter, dated Saturday, along with a full written explanation and details of any compensation measures "Royal Mail proposes to offer Reform UK for the loss and disruption caused by this incident."
The party is also seeking confirmation that appropriate disciplinary action, "up to and including summary dismissal," has been or will be taken against any employee found to have participated in or condoned the destruction of the materials. Additionally, it has called for written assurances that future Reform campaign deliveries will be "prioritised, properly monitored, and safeguarded against any recurrence."
The legal representative stated that the Facebook post "provides clear prima facie evidence of the deliberate destruction or non-delivery of Reform UK’s door-to-door campaign materials that had been entrusted to Royal Mail. Such conduct constitutes a wilful breach of Royal Mail’s statutory and contractual obligations to deliver mail and literature impartially and efficiently. It also undermines the democratic process and Reform UK’s lawful right to engage in political campaigning."
The Facebook group is open to Royal Mail employees and partners, as well as members of the Communication Workers Union, a trade union representing postal delivery workers.
