Andy Burnham says Royal Mail's delivery delays are "unacceptable for far too long"

Royal Mail will wait until January 11 to apply its revised second-class delivery system in the last 107 UK offices, postponing completion of a nationwide rollout past Christmas. The company, owned by International Distribution Services, says the changes mean second-class mail arrives on every other weekday and no longer on Saturdays; it agreed with the postal union to concentrate staff on the holiday rush. The delay follows repeated misses against delivery targets. At Prime Minister’s Questions last week, Andy Burnham criticized Royal Mail’s delivery record, asked it to quickly produce a recovery plan, and warned that ministers could consider additional steps. The Communication Workers Union has sought an urgent meeting, asserting the service is in severe jeopardy, while Royal Mail says the new model is improving results and calls the postponement practical.