UK Government Explores Mutualisation of Post Office

Plans to transfer ownership to subpostmasters face financial and logistical hurdles amid ongoing fallout from Horizon IT scandal.

The Department for Business and Trade has tasked Boston Consulting Group with assessing the feasibility of turning the Post Office into an employee-owned mutual.
The proposal seeks to empower subpostmasters, similar to the John Lewis Partnership model, but faces skepticism due to the Post Office's financial instability.
Alan Bates, a key figure in exposing the Horizon IT scandal, doubts the mutualisation plan's viability, citing the Post Office's reliance on government subsidies.
The Post Office continues to grapple with the financial and reputational damage from the wrongful prosecution of over 900 subpostmasters.
A report on the mutualisation plan is expected to be presented to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in the coming months, but no decisions have been made yet.