Royal Mail strikes: Leeds disabled artist calls for action to be postponed to save businesses this Christmas

He has joined other artists across the country who have reached out to MPs ahead of the festive period. They say the strikes and rising stamp prices have been damaging their business.

The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) partnership is designed for disabled artists who only use their mouth and feet. The artists make their living from the sales of Christmas cards and products featuring their artwork.

Among these artists is Ian McGreen from Leeds who has written a letter to his local MP Andrea Jenkyns claiming the planned strikes and unaffordable stamps are “unacceptable”.

The price of a first class stamp has increased by 42 per cent since 2018, with a 17 per cent price increase for second class stamps. With the current cost-of-living crisis, the price increases in stamps announced in April 2022 has lead Brits to hold back on sending Christmas cards this year.

In his letter to Ms Jenykns, Ian said: “People and businesses are desperately looking for the Government to intervene on their behalf to ensure Christmas isn’t spoiled this year.”

The artists are calling for urgent Government intervention to postpone planned postal strikes by the Royal Mail during Christmas, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and an urgent review of stamp price increases.

Ian says strikes will cause significant damage to livelihoods of many small and independent businesses who rely on an effective postal service during the Christmas trading period.

The organisation says it has received messages from customers in recent weeks that they can no longer afford to buy the Christmas cards, due to cost of posting.

Tom Yendell, board member of the MFPA, said: “There is still time to put the brakes on and find alternative ways of raising attention that won’t cause financial harm.

“Sending a Christmas card should be carefree and affordable, but the recent stamp price increases are so steep that people are now reviewing whether they can afford to send this year, and whether they will be able to purchase our Christmas cards at all.”

Andrea Jenykns has been approached to comment.