Fifty-two post offices will be closing by October due to a decline in use and increasing operational costs. Hundreds of jobs are reportedly in jeopardy, although staff shortages in post offices are also one of the reasons for the closures.
'Post Office closing 52 offices across the UK. Most are in Morrisons shops, which are closing as its private equity owner makes cuts. More will close as private equity-owned TG Jones (WH Smith) makes cuts,' said Lord Prem Sikka.
Towns and Communities Without Post Office
Sikka noted that the closure would leave some towns and districts without post offices. Many closures come with Morrisons shutting their doors permanently.
Post Office closing 52 offices across the UK.
— Prem Sikka (@premnsikka) August 23, 2026
Most are in Morrisons shops, which are closing as its private equity owner makes cuts.
More will close as private equity owned TG Jones (WH Smith) makes cuts.
Towns/Districts without banks & post offices.https://t.co/pHjz7Wqfud
Last Saturday, many Guildford residents mourned the closure of the Burpham Post Office as the host Morrisons also closed due to rising operational costs. It's a 'blow to the community,' said local councillor George Potter, as the community also lost a pharmacy and medical clinic in the last few years.
The Post Office did not have a hand in the closure, stating that it is 'working hard to find solutions as quickly as possible, as we fully recognise the inconvenience this will cause our customers.' Potter lamented that Burpham used to be 'a place where you could do pretty much everything on your doorstep.'
'You're forced to travel out of the community and every time people have to travel out of the community to do something, you just gradually lose a little bit of that community spirit as well along the way,' said Potter. 'We're really hoping that somebody will come along and take over the empty building and bring the Post Office back.'
What's the Solution?
When asked by a social media user what the government can do with the growing issue of a lack of post offices in some villages, Sikka said: 'Community hubs which provide banking, post office, DWP, HMRC, GP and other public services are one place. This will increase footfall in town centres and help businesses too. Cost of the hubs can be shared and/or covered by a levy on banks.'
In 2024, the Post Office also closed 115 branches with an estimated 2,000 jobs threatened. The closure was related to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry where subpostmasters were implicated in financial shortfalls due to a faulty accounting software.
Morrisons called it a 'tough but necessary decision' to close many of its stores and integrated post offices. 'This situation has been exacerbated in more recent years by significant cost increases,' a Morrisons representative said. The announcement was made as early as May.
Many of the affected MPs have reached out to the Post Office and Morrisons management to find solutions. Surrey County Councilor Andy Lynch said that the alternative for Horley residents is 20 minutes away, as the town is expected to close its post office on 3 October. 'You've got a 20-minute journey to the nearest alternative and that's not really good enough,' said Lynch.
Minimum Requirement for PO Branches
The closure of 52 branches will also threaten the Crown's requirement that 11,500 post offices must be opened across the country. 'Ministers have maintained the existing minimum requirement of 11,500 branches,' the Crown said.
