THE Post Office could be handed over to thousands of sub-postmasters in an historic shake-up as its future hangs in the balance following the Horizon IT scandal.

Government ministers are exploring plans to transfer ownership to employees, similar to the model used by the John Lewis Partnership.

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It is based on the idea that its workers are each part-owners of the company and receive a share of annual profits.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has asked management consultancy firm BCG to examine options for mutualising the Post Office.

Still in its early stages, a report is expected to be handed to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in the coming months.

The 364-year-old institution is wholly owned by the state and is Britain’s biggest retail network, with roughly 11,500 branches.

But Whitehall insiders admitted it’s in a lot of trouble and is only financially viable because of an annual subsidy it receives from the government.

A government source told The Sun on Sunday that they are currently looking at “all options” for its future after sub-postmasters’ relationship with management was irrevocably damaged following the scandal.

They are investigating other funding models and whether various government services could be operated out of its branches.

In April, Kevin Hollinrake, former Tory minister responsible for postal affairs, met trade union officials and representatives of the co-operative movement to discuss the possibility of mutualising it.

It’s understood that no decisions have yet been made, and any change of ownership could be a lengthy and complicated process.

Gareth Thomas, the minister who currently oversees the Post Office, and Business Secretary Mr Reynolds, may be asked about the BCG project next month when they’re expected to give evidence to the public inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal.

Calls for a review of the company’s ownership model have grown amid rising public anger at the wrongful conviction of hundreds of sub-postmasters.

Highlighted by the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, it has been labelled Britain’s biggest miscarriage of justice after they were accused of stealing cash from their branches.

Many had their lives destroyed, were imprisoned, and some even passed away or committed suicide before finally being exonerated.

Former sub-postmaster Sir Alan Bates, who tirelessly campaigned for justice, is still to agree a compensation settlement and has called on the government to consider suing former directors of the company.

The institution is also facing internal governance woes after Chairman Henry Staunton was sacked in January by former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch over alleged serious failings.

As part of their efforts to repair the Post Office’s battered finances and reputation, the government has parachuted in Nigel Railton, a former boss of National Lottery operator Camelot, as its chairman.

One of Mr Railton’s first major tasks is to find a new chief executive, after Mr Nick Read confirmed last month that he was leaving.

After meeting Mr Hollinrake in April, Andy Furey, a national officer at the CWU Union, said: “There has to be a totally new operating model for the Post Office going forward to remain relevant for society.

“The people on the frontline delivering the service to communities on a daily basis deserve a much bigger say in the running of the Post Office.”

Q&A: What it means and how it could work

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WHAT would mutualisation of the Post Office mean?

A transfer of ownership to a mutual body — such as a cooperative or company and allowing its members to have a say in how it is run.

Who would the members of such a cooperative body be?

They could include sub-postmasters, employees and customers.

What active role would they have in running the business?

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They would share in its profits and also appoint a board of directors.

What are the chances of handing over Post Office ownership for this restructure?

Any restructure process is likely to be the subject of public consultation.

What is to stop members selling off shares for a quick and easy profit if it goes through?

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Safeguarding would be put in place to ensure that the Post Office acts in the public interest and prevents shares from being sold off.

What happens to the Government subsidies which are currently enjoyed by the Post Office?

Mutualisation could mean the loss of any subsidies from the Government.

Is there any potential downside to a mutualisation of the Post Office?

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The National Federation of SubPostmasters warned in February this year that any mutualisation of the Post Office “too soon” could bankrupt the corporation.

A MAJOR London tube station is set to get a multi-million pound revamp next year.

Transport for London (Tfl) confirmed the changes to the Elephant and Castle London Underground station on Monday.

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Tfl said they will hugely increase the station’s capacity, add in a new station box, tunnels and step-free access.

The tunnels will also provide step-free access to the Northern line for the very first time.

Elephant and Castle tube station operates on the Northern and Bakerloo lines of the London Underground.

They are expected to run for 135 metres and link its new station box with Northern line platforms.

Work on the station box commenced back in 2022 and a tunnel contract has been awarded to engineering firm Dragados UK.

Delancey, who developed the Elephant & Castle shopping centre site, is set to build the station box.

The changes have been brought on by an expected surge in users of the Elephant and Castle tube station.

Station usage is expected to rise by 24-50 per cent according to TfL statistics.

Excavating work in the tunnels will start in 2025 and hopes for completion by 2027.

Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: “I’m delighted TfL has now appointed a tunnelling contractor so work can continue on the vital Elephant and Castle Tube station upgrade.

“[This] will give the station step free access for the first time and deliver a new Northern line entrance and ticket hall.

“These significant upgrades will not only improve customer journeys through the station but will also support the delivery of thousands of new jobs and new homes in Elephant and Castle, supporting the Mayor’s aim for a fairer, greener London for everyone.” 

Stuart Harvey, TfL’s Chief Capital Officer, added: “Work is progressing well on the major upgrade of Elephant and Castle Tube station.

“The appointment of a tunnelling contractor [is] a significant step forward in delivering an expanded station fit to serve this growing community for many decades to come.

“When completed, the new entrance and ticket hall will provide step-free access from street to platform level on the Northern line and increase station capacity by over 30 per cent.

“Further in the future, and subject to TfL securing the necessary funding, the plan is for this new entrance to also serve Bakerloo line customers as part of the planned Bakerloo Line Extension.” 

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RETAILERS face Christmas carnage as skint shoppers stay away, experts predict.

They say the cost of living crisis and fears of future tax rises mean many people will cut back on present buying.

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And that could mean more store closures and redundancies.

Last year 10,494 shops closed and 119,405 staff lost their jobs.

Earlier this month the restaurant chain TGI Fridays closed 35 sites and axed 1,000 jobs.

Prof Joshua Bamfield, of the Centre for Retail Research, told The Sun on Sunday: “Last month was quite good but there has not been much strength in the retail sector.

“I think Christmas is going to be a bit sick.

“People will still buy things but I expect they will be spending the same amount as last year or perhaps even less.”

He added: “I don’t think anyone is very optimistic about next year and I think in January we will be looking at a continuing fall in the number of stores — including lots and lots of bankruptcies.

“I think unless the Government can find a way of cheering everyone up it is going to be very slow going in October, November and December.”

A POPULAR outdoor clothing chain is due to shut following a massive closing down sale.

Millets, which has been operating for over a century, announced that the Burgess Hill store in West Sussex will be closing for good.

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Shoppers can get a huge 30 per cent off all Millets stock in the soon-to-be-shut location, according to reports in Sussex World.

Millets stocks big name brands including the likes of Berghaus, The North Face and Jack Wolfskin.

It’s one of 100 Millets stores across the UK.

The chain is owned by fellow outdoors retailer Blacks and it was founded all the way back in 1893 – with its first two stores in Southampton and Bristol.

A source close to the store said: “We decided not to renew the lease at our Burgess Hill store which had come up for renewal.

“This affects four colleagues, and we are working with them to see if there are alternative roles available at other local JDGroup stores.”

Shoppers were left crying to hear about the shocking store closure.

They will now have to visit the nearby branches at Horsham GO Outdoors Express, Uckfield Millets or Brighton Millets.

It’s not the only Millets store that’s set to close – part of the chain’s string of closures has also affected Yorkshire.

Millets on Market Street, York, was pictured with signs that read “all stock must go” with 30% off on “absolutely everything”.

The much-loved shop’s closure will come as a huge blow to people who rely on the branch for camping essentials.

Customers will now have to visit the nearest Millets shops in Beverley and Scarborough to shop for camping essentials.

The reason behind the store closure is yet to be revealed.

It comes after a handful of closures of Millets stores across the country in recent weeks, including Sussex, Halifax and Cheltenham.

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ALDI is bringing out some hot deals to heat your house as the cold nights draw in.

With the ongoing cost of living crisis and energy bills scarier than Halloween, Brits are looking for alternative ways to keep toasty this Christmas.

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Certain gadgets on sale could keep you from tampering with the radiator and risking racking up the energy bill.

Aldi Specialbuys are a selection of products released each week at a discounted price so you can be ready to help tackle the icy nights.

This week on the Special Buy range are a collection of heating products designed to keep your house as warm as possible without breaking the bank.

The Sun has collected a list of energy bill-saving bargains to look out for.

These products aren’t available yet at their discounted price but will be on the shelves October 30.

The deals are published on the Aldi website but they are sold on a  first-come, first-served basis so make sure to snap them up quickly if you spot something you like.

Heated Airers

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With the bitter British weather, the washing line might be out of action, but this doens’t mean you need to turn to the tumble dryer.

The Ambiano Heated Airer, which you can pick up for £34.99, offers 18 bars of heat to dry clothes quickly and efficiently.

It stretches out to 1.4m so you can dry all your winter warmers ready for bed.

Fan Heater

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For that extra blast of warmth you can take home a Kirkton House Fan Heater for £24.99.

The product offers two different heating settings – 1000W, or you can double heat and have 2000W of powered warmth.

This means it will cost around 22p or 45p to run for an hour.

With a ‘modern freestanding design’ Aldi claims the portable gadget even has tip-over protection.

Insulation Wrap

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To keep your house as warm as possible you can line the walls with Multi Purpose Insulation Wrap by Superfoil.

Priced at £12.99, this item tackles the chilly air by keeping out the cold, trapping heat inside, and reflecting UV light.

It also prevents damp and condensation which can cause mould and temperature drops.

This wrap reduces loss by up to 65 per cent for each large insulation wrap, according to Aldi.

Radiator Foil

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Radiator foil is effective at preventing heat loss by reflecting the heat directly back into the room.

This increases the radiator’s efficiency and ensures they are working at their max capacity.

You can nab the Superfoil Radiator Reflector for £9.99 and cut it to adapt to any radiator.

Aldi claims the foil to reduces heat loss by up to a whopping 86 per cent and it comes 0.6m x 3m which should be enough to cover three radiators.

Thermal T-shirts

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For £9.99 you can grab a pair Workwear Thermal T-Shirts to keep as warm as possible while still wearing something lightweight and breathable.

In black or grey, the short-sleeved thermal set come in sizes medium to extra-extra-large.

Money saving experts always recommend piling on the clothes before whacking on the heating.

Oil Radiator

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Oil radiators are a cost-effective way to heat your house as quickly as possible.

Costing around 20p per hour to run the Kirkton House Oil Filled Radiator can provide a much needed burst of warmth.

The compact product is marked at £29.99 and comes with a carry handle so you can bring it do your bedroom for those frosty mornings.

With three heat settings and an adjustable thermostat you can tailor your temperature without compromising on cost.

Draught excluder

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If you want the most bang for your buck, Aldi is offering a Workzone Adhesive Draught Excluder for only £1.99.

The Workzone Adhesive Draught Excluder lines the gaps between your windows to prevent drauphts.

Heat often escapes through breaks in the window and can drastically change the temperature of a room.

With the choice of white, brown, or black, you can match the accessory to a range of window frames.

HOTEL linen is always bright and white – but experts have revealed the decision is more tactical than you’d think.

Apparently there is more to using the classic crisp white sheet than just aesthetics.

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Hotel experts reveal the reason behind the colour theme isn’t just coincidence, but is due to cleanliness, practicality and design function.

Here are the reasons why the next hotel room you stay in will most likely have bright white bedding.

Cleanliness

Area general manager for Coury Hospitality Delane McCoy told Travel + Leisure: “After safety, cleanliness is always the hotel’s first priority.

“White, crisp linen reminds the guest how clean the hotel is.”

Delane explained how when you first walk into a nice new hotel room, more often than not the first thing you notice is the bed.

She added: “The hotel bed is the focal point of any guest room, and all attention is drawn there.

“A bed with fresh, crisp, clean, white linen gives guests the peace of mind that the entire room is clean and sanitized.” 

Practicality

A lot of luxury hotels will opt for white bedding because it immediately flags which sheets need cleaning.

Using a white linen also signposts when linen needs replacing, as any marks are easier to spot.

Healthcare is often associated with the colour white – it’s often used in hospitals, dentist offices, and health clinics.

This is because you can tell when dirt accumulates on a white surface and so by observing the colour white it appears clean.

Another perk of using these sheets is that they haven’t been dyed a different colour, and so with multiple washes they won’t fade or change.

This makes all the linen uniform and allows lets them last longer before they need to be exchanged.

Hotel bedding is constantly being washed so by replacing them less frequently the hotel is able to save money.

Design

General manager of The Hamilton Alpharetta Amber Edwards believes plain white sheets elevates the look of the rest of the hotel room.

She said: “The beauty of crisp, white bedding is that it complements the room’s design, allowing other elements — like plush throws, elegant pillows, and carefully chosen décor — to stand out and create an elegant, cohesive look.”

By using bedding without patterns and colours, guests are better able to appreciate the style and layout of a carefully designed room.

White also also fits in with a range of interior design styles and so would be a suitable pick for most hotel rooms.

How to make your bed feel like a hotel

WHETHER you want to recreate the perfect hotel stay or impress guests during their visit – these hacks are a game-changer.

Self-professed Home Hacks Queen, Carolina McCauley, shared her three top tips for making your bed.

The first trick is to use a bed making tool, an iron-shaped plastic device that acts as a “mattress jack” and keeps it propped up.

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This helps you tuck the bed sheet under to ensure it doesn’t pop off and leave any mattress exposed from underneath.

“To help lifting heavy mattresses and tuck in sheets without braking your nails,” Carolina added.

Another way to make your bed looks five-star is to get rid of those crinkled duvet covers.

An easy hack to avoid ironing only requires some warm water and a spray bottle.

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“Add warm water to a spray bottle and spray over your bed while smoothing with your hands to remove wrinkles with no ironing,” the homemaker explained.

The third tip to recreate a luxurious hotel bed is to “keep the sheets tag in the right hand corner so your sheet fits every time.”