CWU general secretary Dave Ward has called for an urgent meeting with First Minister John Swinney amid fears the crisis at Royal Mail could damage the conduct of May’s Holyrood elections.

Writing to Mr Swinney, Mr Ward — alongside CWU regional official for Northern Ireland and Scotland, Craig Anderson — has outlined the impact chronic understaffing was having across Royal Mail, hitting morale, lifeline services across rural Scotland, and potentially putting postal ballots in jeopardy in May.

Mr Anderson called the letter “a sign of how worried we are about the future and current provision of postal services in Scotland.”

He said: “Royal Mail’s refusal to equalise the workforce’s terms and conditions and make the necessary investment is having a hugely negative impact on the workforce, leading to plummeting morale and terrible recruitment and retention rates.

“We believe it is entirely appropriate for the First Minister of Scotland to intervene on the issue and summon Royal Mail for an urgent meeting.

“We want to ensure that Royal Mail commits to protecting Scotland’s democratic process while also ensuring no detriment to other vital mail deliveries.”