Almost half of Britain’s post offices could face closure, a new Government consultation has revealed, with Labour admitting that rural elderly residents will be among the worst affected.

Labour’s Future of Post Office consultation, which closes tomorrow, suggests that approximately 6,000 of Britain’s 11,500 post offices could be forced to shut their doors permanently.

The consultation document indicates that more than 50 per cent of post offices across the nation have become financially unviable.

Part-time branches operating just several days weekly and those sharing facilities with other establishments have been earmarked as those most at risk.

Rural villages, serving majority elderly populations, also appear particularly vulnerable under the proposals.

Ministers argue that continuing subsidies for these loss-making branches cannot be sustained indefinitely.

Despite the recommendation to close more than half of the UK’s current branches, the Government’s assessment recognises that countryside post offices serve as essential community hubs.

It went on to say that the sites provide crucial social value for elderly residents who rely on them more heavily than their urban counterparts.

The consultation document also reveals ministers are considering a fundamental redefinition of what constitutes a post office branch.

Under these plans, simple collection and delivery points could be classified as post offices, potentially replacing staffed branches with unmanned boxes.

This shift would fundamentally alter the nature of postal services across Britain.

Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party has mobilised against these proposals, establishing a petition to oppose the widespread closures.

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Shadow post office minister Harriett Baldwin warned against the closure, saying essential services provided by post offices go beyond simple mail delivery.

Elderly Britons are able to use post offices to access banking facilities, benefit payments, and vital face-to-face assistance that cannot be replicated by automated collection points.

Ms Baldwin said: “Post offices are a precious part of our critical national infrastructure.

“Every community must have access to essential services like cash, parcels and communications.”

The Tories went on to describe Labour’s proposals as an assault on Britain’s social infrastructure.

The Department for Business responded to mounting criticism last night, saying: “It is right to consider a range of options to secure the organisation’s long-term future, but our preference is to keep the overall size and shape of the network the same.”

The consultation comes as it was announced around 8,000 Collect+ convenience stores will be rebranded to a Royal Mail Shop after the delivery giant’s owner bought a stake in the parcel service firm.

International Distribution Services (IDS) announced it had acquired a 49 per cent stake in Collect+ with a £43.9million investment.

The new high street shops will sell Royal Mail postage over the counter for the first time, meaning customers can pay in person rather than online beforehand.

They will continue to offer services to collect, send and return parcels, including from other carriers, and will have extended opening hours, including evenings and weekends.

Some 500 shops have already been rebranded and will be rolled out more widely in the coming months, while self-service kiosks are set to be installed in some locations from the beginning of 2026.

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