The first edition of a monthly newspaper The SubPostmaster was published on 4 September 1899, and Joseph Ranns, founder and first National President, wrote the inaugural article.
Having rejected arguments against this by the NFSP, the Certification Officer stripped the organisation of trade union status on 13 January 2014.
[6] The NFSP says its funding allows it to provide practical support to members but does not prevent it from challenging or criticising the Post Office.
"[12]In March 2020, the parliamentary Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee launched a "Post Office & Horizon inquiry" and included within the inquiry's terms of reference the question "What role did the National Federation of Sub-postmasters play in the Horizon scandal in terms of representing affected sub-postmasters?
"[13] Converted into a statutory inquiry in 2021, the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, led by retired High Court judge Sir Wyn Williams, included within its list of issues an examination of the knowledge of the NFSP (along with the Communication Workers Union, UK Government Investments and the government) about problems relating to Horizon.