Royal Mail launches probe as postie 'seen scrawling 'racists'' on Reform leaflets

Royal Mail has launched a probe into footage of a postal worker allegedly writing 'racists' on Reform UK leaflets before dropping them through voters' doors.

The male postie, who has not yet been named, was seen in doorbell footage taking a pen out of his pocket and writing on two leaflets. The man, wearing a red branded Royal Mail polo shirt and black cap, then puts them through letterboxes inside a block of flats.

A picture of two leaflets bearing the word 'racists' in capital letters has been shared by Politics UK's X account. The election literature shows Reform leader Nigel Farage standing next to the party's chairman Richard Tice.

A postie was caught on camera writing on electoral leaflets put out by Reform UK

The leaflets were circulated on behalf of Reform candidate Craig Birtwistle, who is standing in the constituency of Worsley and Eccles in Greater Manchester.

A Royal Mail spokesperson told Politics UK: "We take our role in elections very seriously and will investigate any incident or allegation of election material being defaced.

The leaflets had the word 'racists' written on them

"We are aware of the video and are conducting immediate enquiries. It’s our priority to ensure all candidate mail is delivered to a high level of service."

Mr Farage shared the footage to his own X account and tweeted: "I hope that @RoyalMail are taking this matter very seriously."

The man, in a Royal Mail shirt, was seen taking a pen out of his pockets before writing something on the leaflets

It comes as the 60-year-old political leader - who is standing for the eighth time in the hope of winning a parliamentary seat, this time in Clacton - graces the TRIC Awards with his presence. He won the Best News Presenter gong and told an interviewer on the red carpet he would run the country "one day".