Ian Hislop Roasts Tory For Post Office Scandal Excuses

[@TheOldgeezah]

Ian and his magnificent magazine have been holding people to account since 1961. Long may they continue.

[@Mark13091961]

The way these odious people in power are falling over themselves to now correct this is almost as nauseating and disgraceful as the crime they ignored for 20 years

[@dexocube]

True

[@SuperStella1111]

Twenty five years.

[@1961-v9k]

I read a book about this years ago. I cannot believe it’s taken this long to come to attention and get something done about it. The powers that be MAKE ME PUKE 🤬🤬🤬

[@Nick-fg4dq]

Perhaps itv should do a drama on grenfell,because that's a gross miscarriage of justice too there's clear criminal negligence,but no prosecution that's utterly scandalous.

[@tonychorley4936]

I am not sure they are falling over themselves to correct this, the Post Office is still hiring banks of expensive lawyers and fighting every claim for redress.

[@juffjaff]

Ian's words are fire! I bloody love that man and wish there were more humans like him.

[@tobylerone4285]

The only annoying thing is he’s clearly only got the platform he has because of his background and private education. There are plenty of humans like him, but they don’t have the status required to get on the BBC

[@annmariecollins6652]

Yet he aided and abetted Johnson his majority and denied us all that much needed change when joined in bad mouthing and demonising Jeremy Corbyn!

[@weyman4317]

Ian is an absolute star- all these politicians are useless and incapable- only in it for themselves. Post Office management need to be put in jail.

[@mildlydispleased3221]

​@@tobylerone4285He didn't choose to have private education, did he? Seven year old Ian can't go up to is parents and ask to go to a state school, can he?

[@tobylerone4285]

@@mildlydispleased3221 did I say it was his fault? It’s an issue with our system. When people from state schools get the same access to the BBC as hislop as had then it’ll be fair. As is it’s good that hislop supports the right things but that level of the media is so consumed by the mendacious privately educated yakuza that he’s just one voice against thousands

[@Gph0367]

Well done Ian👍 Justice for the victims of the post office scandal❤

[@williamoates1754]

This will never be over until all those taking part in this miscarriage of justice are behind bars.

[@martywest6004]

Suspect it will roll like Hillsborough, and justice will come when it's too late for many?!

[@kiriakoz]

They will NEVER be behind bars. England is a corrupt nation which protects its elites like no other maybe apart from USA. Their media are complicit.

[@Mac-dx4rd]

It will never be over then

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

@@martywest6004Yes, good analogy, so infuriating and cruel.

[@12theotherandrew]

Don’t wast money keeping them at public expense; fine them “till the pips squeak.”

[@djb4069]

IAN should be running the County, not the crooked MP's And please don't argue with IAN he will tie most people up knots WITH THE TRUTH!!!!!!!

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

I'm a regular Private Eye subscriber. The Horizon scandal is very old news in PE. Almost 2 decades I think. Ian Hislop and his team have been banging on with those for ages. Now suddenly the rest of the meeeeja catches up. It's amazing.

[@Ominousheat]

🤔 Tbf people like Ian are needed for what they have been doing. Being a wise watchdog. It's not personalities that are needed for governance. Just those willing to represent the common good over private and corporate interests.

[@kerrydevlin]

No he shouldn't.

[@triffid68]

@@kerrydevlin Why not?

[@bield7]

@@kerrydevlin wow, incisive 🙄

[@Damn_Cat]

I absolutely love the moment Ian opts to interrupt the MP to call him out on the "claims to love [the programme]" comment. As petty as it looks, and as much as I laughed at it, he's right to do so. The Tories are notorious for putting words in peoples' mouths and misrepresenting political opponents, slandering even over the most minute details in public forums. That debate tactic of sprinking tidbits of falsities about what people have said or done into discussion like salting a meal with crumbs of grit should be hung up to examine more often than it currently is being.

[@allmodcons2274]

👍They are right 🤬 at it. Always spin.

[@mrdaveythebaby]

It's a sneaky psychological trick Berry is using to try to imply dishonesty on Hislop's behalf. 'You claim' 'So called' etc when there is nothing to actually challenge. It would slip past most people because... why would you challenge it...

[@Zikar]

Yes, absolutely! It's a tactic that's used to bring into question his honesty. It implies that Ian is lying about liking the programme and that puts the germ in the listener's brain that maybe he's not being truthful about other things he said. As you say, Ian was absolutely right to shut it down and it also shows how seasoned he is with this kind of thing that he picked up on it instantly, where as someone less experienced or less confident may have missed it or let it slide.

[@PMS1950]

Sadly it's not just the tories.

[@Smarterthanyew]

It was to imply that someone posh and high-minded like Ian wouldn't like an ITV show about people further down the class hierarchy. So it was a classist comment aswell as an implicit accusation of lying. HE didnt like or watch the show, too low rent obviously. He projected his own snobbery onto Ian.

[@simonpkershaw]

Go Ian, we are all behind you

[@spiritualdeath101]

To believe that 700 post masters suddenly started thieving, you need a deep-seated prejudice against them. Otherwise you'd say - "that is very strange". The Post Office regarded them as career criminals. Why was they so prejudiced ?

[@fergman3690]

The argued logic here is that the IT system uncovered a presumed dishonesty that postmasters had their hands in the till. Completely wrong of course, and daft to think that people would do this under the scrutiny of an IT system.

[@sam1111979]

It wouldn't have been unreasonable to think "either these people have always been thieving from us, or there's something seriously wrong with the new software." Starting from those 2 alternative hypothesis, I'm sure the correct conclusion would have been reached. But when you have bonuses for catching these people out, maybe stir in a bit of racism, it's easy to see how we ended up where we are.

[@CheeseyMilkshakes]

It becomes much easier to understand when you learn that half of the postmasters were south asian, very obvious racism in play

[@ZuulGatekeeper]

Thousands not hundreds, not everyone the Post Office accused was prosecuted. Over two thousand others were made to pay back imaginary Horizon shortfalls ranging from a few hundred to 10's of thousands of pounds to avoid prosecution.

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

@robertsmuggles You ask why the prejudice ? Now what could it possibly be based on I wonder ? A clue in Private Eye reporting from the enquiry from a PO IT "helpline" worker saying that they would report "another bloody Patel on the line trying to screw some money". Most postmasters and mistresses are from the Indian subcontinent. So in the famously non racist UK it was largely good old fashioned racism, together with a self serving corrupt management structure in the Post Office that might have had something to do with it.

[@Sense008]

I rarely have seen Ian that (rightfully) Incandescent with rage, and I love him all the more for it. Usually his anger is packaged in irony and sarcasm, he makes it sound light. But here he was quite obviously completely incandescent.

[@dominichazell7862]

He should be in politics himself.

[@chrstnldg6652]

Just the latest government scandal. The little man never gets justice. Ian Hislop is a hero

[@andydudley1775]

the little man gets jail if he dares to ask for justice it the sunek way for the friends of tory .the ones that question judges right to judge .will be sentenced for "thinking "such a thing .and the bbc backs it all

[@El-Burrito]

Ian Hislop is fantastic

[@mrmikeh-nv7cq]

He is.

[@martincotterill823]

Appalling! These bastards have to be put behind bars! Don't expect anything from the Tories

[@1961-v9k]

Keir Starmer was DPP at the time and claims that only a ‘few’ of these prosecutions got to his desk 🤔

[@NellWhatcott]

You expect anything from the corrupt Starmer? He's well and truly part of this problem and another one lying about it!

[@iainpattison903]

Good comment but there's nothing wrong with bastards.

[@chuck1804]

Don't expect anything from politicians. Unless of course you threaten their votes. Then they might get off their arses and pretend to care about something.

[@maxpathan7927]

Dont expect anything from the tories or labour

[@lolwalters2936]

The story behind this story is how those in power can use their collective contacts to cover up their guilt.. quiet conversations, easy access to ministers. Very handy to have an old school tie, social network and telephone book. When Corbyn and others talk about the game being rigged, this is exactly what they mean... and it is not the only example..just one that has broken through.

[@Steve14ps]

If only Corbyn was prime minister

[@patbarnes5020]

It’s not just the skin colour as all lives matter and should be treated as such. If you watched the program everyone was affected no matter what colour creeps or religion.

[@patbarnes5020]

Meant creed.

[@pk1645]

Ian Hislop is a national treasure.

[@lotuselise4432]

Need Knighthood as well as Alan Bates

[@rosstheboss-q2f]

@@lotuselise4432 He wouldn’t accept one, and neither would Alan Bates.

[@franc9111]

@@rosstheboss-q2f Bates did.

[@JohnLedger-g4i]

This gentleman mentions the National Federation of Sub-postmasters. They were supposed to be the sub-postmasters union. However as this travesty has unfolded it has become clear that in fact the Federation were hand in glove with the Post Office after the latter made it clear that it was not in their interests to rock the boat. The Federation are as much at fault for not calling out the injustices as are plenty of others.

[@gertyrood]

My step parent was railway union rep but his best friend was the station master. That how I learnt not to trust unions! Management go out of their way to befriend the union reps. Mind you this was the 80,s ...

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

That is so depressing and infuriating.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

@@gertyroodOne swallow does not make a summer. A Union of small business owners is not the same as a union of workers, FFS

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

@@adriftinaboat3452The Federation is not a trade Union. It is a small business peak body. A distinction lost on our union bashing friend there.

[@christianparsons6050]

Just once , could a senior MP just tell the truth and own up to something with humility. Psychopaths the lot of them.

[@cordoroy9515]

I'll be surprised if any Torrie MPs go on a TV show when Ian Hislop is on it anymore, he is brilliant at knowing more than they do, calling put BS and giving them the grilling they should be getting from every politcal presenter.

[@peterharris1672]

If the Post Office are able to hide their dirty dealings for so long just imagine all of the other outrages that may lie just below the surface but perhaps Grenfell and the Windrush scandals are enough to uncover for the moment.

[@bollockchop501]

They drag things out until people lose interest,and it gets brushed under the carpet and forgotten,the usual tactics,think about all the scandals,Andrew is just a diversion

[@marktownsend1982]

Vaccine mandates and excess deaths?

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

@@marktownsend1982No, cooker.

[@annelawton6783]

British establishment corruption upheld by class system and royal family etc it has been going on for centuries …why Reform needed

[@brettblyth1857]

Forced to plead guilty in order to not face a custodial sentence is an Orwellian concept that needs to be reformed. The overpaid executives of the P.O. should be ordered to repay the postmasters compensation in 2 days out of their own pockets (or from their mother's savings), or face custodial sentences, which would balance the 'Lady Justice' scales of the law.

[@MrACOUSTICPETE]

Ian Hislop minister for standards of behaviour in public life ? I'd vote for that !!

[@pavanpatel4150]

Give them back their money, give them a ton of compensation to try and make up for this, and of course a full pardon. These people have lost so much and deserve to be compensated.

[@badgers1975]

Not a pardon, as that suggests anything other total innocence. Admission of wrongful convictions is the only answer. It annoys me that it took a TV show for people to become incensed over something that's been regular headline news for 20 years, and private eye have run it for years

[@Tao_Tology]

One of the few people you don't want to try to b.s. on this scandal is Hislop. Private Eye and [edit] Computer Weekly have been keeping on this story for years when no other news outlets gave a toss.

[@clarecrawford9677]

Computer Weekly

[@Tao_Tology]

@@clarecrawford9677 Huh. Thought it was World.

[@lesley-annemclelland857]

As well as all those responsible for the Horizon scandal within the Post Office upper management Listening to this sad story makes me want to suggest that the Federation rep. concerned should be up on charges as well. The Federation was there to help and support the Post masters and mistresses, allegedly, but in this particular case the Federation rep. clearly couldn't be ersed to do their job!😡🤬 If there is anything that comes out of the Peston clip it is that you should NEVER get on the wrong side of Ian Hyslop because he will rip you to shreds in seconds!👏😂

[@fatwalletboy2]

And i believe they had to pay to be a member of that federation too! It just gets worse!

[@marythorpe928]

Way to go Ian Hislop, these corrupt Tories need to b voted out of power..

[@andydudley1775]

and the lib dems the only thing they stood for was a david cameron speech.

[@tawAAkul]

Ian Hislop is just class. He's been consistent on this and has been reporting on it for years

[@davelocktalk]

It's absolutely shocking what the post office has done, the people incharge of it should be jailed! Innocent people have committed suicide through this!

[@michaelayling8855]

Well done Ian.

[@richardd7328]

Since the election of tne Tories, the fabric of this nation has declined, but the tax benefits for the rich have improved, Tory Greed as usual

[@jpw6893]

This was done under labour. Tony Blair signed off on the software even though he knew it had issues.

[@gregprocter765]

This whole scandal is a classic case of a business doing what they think they can get away with if given the chance and the British justice system enables these attacks against the common person.

[@elliotwilliams7421]

Yup, under labours watch.

[@CameronJohnstone-y1j]

Just shows that letting corporations and businesses regulate themselves will never, ever work. They will take the path of least resistance and highest profit everytime.

[@davidlong1459]

Ian’s excellent appearance the other night is a sharp reminder - this sort of meaningful interaction would have been more frequent a decade or two ago. Politicians (in particular govt reps) answerable to us avoid decent journalists and commentators posing difficult questions and showing up truths. e.g. appearances of ministers on Newsnight have become rarer and rarer. It’s an important facet to our democracy for those in power to be exposed to sharp questioning in public on what really matters and not just cozy down with whoever suits them in the media.

[@patriciacopley8284]

BRAVO IAN 👏👏👏

[@sarahrussan4472]

Good on you Mr Hislop

[@elizabethanderson2968]

It's not like the Tories to suddenly care about anyone but themselves in an election year, is it? The incompetence, shoulder shrugging, and barefaced lies of the testimonies so far are a disgrace ... Fujitsu should be fully liable for all comp and jail terms handed out

[@jpw6893]

Did labour? It was done under them

[@Amen-sx3mp]

The Post Office is an institution which should be revamped and started again with a new brand. If the leaders were trying to protect the brand they've damaged it irreparably. I'll always consider it as sinister now.

[@captainweekend5276]

Just nationalize it and reunify it with royal mail, clearly privatisation has failed in this case like many others.

[@lukexfd4679]

They'd need a catchy name. Like Consignia or something

[@Brian-om2hh]

It has now come out that the Post Office claimed a tax rebate on the compensation they have so far paid out.... is there no end to the greed of these vultures?

[@alexritchie4586]

And why has this country never introduced Bonus Clawback laws? Because after bankers crashed the global economy in 2008 we believed they should still get their bonuses.

[@JakobusVdL]

which 'we' believed that?

[@rodden1953]

They did this with the disability assessments , they got paid £200 for every one they found fit for work .

[@TanyaRando]

Isn't it ironic that the MP brings up the pension the post office people have .... I mean....I can't believe he had the nerve!

[@12Gsooty]

Well done Ian Hislop👍🏻 Show them bent Tories up for what they really are.

[@curlytheunacceptable.4298]

Corporate hatred driven by greed.

[@tjCAUk]

well done Ian Always one of the best.

[@Iguazu65]

Hislop is a man of integrity that cannot be pushed around. A man with a voice that resonates because he sees the stuff we are not allowed to see. His questions are like tasers. Shocking politicians with hard facts and realities that they have avoided for 29 years. Well done.

[@karl9411]

Every time Nick Berry opens his mouth ,nonsense pours out .Im ashamed i have to live in his constituency and ashamed people have voted him in .

[@starmersbarber]

I agree, It's Jake Berry btw...Nick is the Eastenders actor/ 'pop star'.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

I feel for you

[@karl9411]

@@starmersbarber 😄indeed

[@ollietaro]

Get 'em Ian!!! We are behind you 100%! ✊️

[@kiriakoz]

Ian Hislop is a national treasure. I don’t live there anymore but if I did, I’d feel so indebted to him for fighting for every day people.

[@MrYossarianuk]

Never mess with Hislop, no one ever wins

[@ppetal1]

Except in court.

[@MrYossarianuk]

@@ppetal1 Ha ha

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

At least Hislop has the guts to risk being taken to court. PE has won court cases as well.

[@alexritchie4586]

​​@@ppetal1 Whenever Private Eye is defeated in court it's because Britain chooses to retain the world's most draconian and bizarre libel laws, as libel tourism is a nice little earner for the government and judiciary. The facts are never found in repute, but surprise, surprise, UK libel laws are so absurd that they're not really over-concerned with, uh, actual libel.

[@Mark13091961]

Paul Merton does - regularly

[@caz1385]

I never realised how bad things were, the programme made feel sickened about what was kept from the public. I have every support for all the victims involved.

[@ronyagpd]

It shames our country.Compensation should be paid immediately without them having to complete an application. They must also be reimbursed for monies paid unnecessarily. As for the participants in this conspiracy of silence, PLEASE, Police, take out legal proceedings against them - the barristers at the official Inquiry have done the research for you - and get them lengthy jail time and fines. Perhaps if they feel what it is like in practice to lose everything they will gain some comprehension of what they have done and participated in.

[@lizcollinson2692]

All the money taken to pay-off shortfalls needs returning with interest. Pensions restored, compensated for malicious prosecution.

[@seeteasea5497]

When ever anyone uses the word “demonstrably” when denying something, it means they are lying

[@EggBastion]

it's not a fact but nevertheless a depressingly reliable rule of thumb

[@seeteasea5497]

@@EggBastion it’s up there with “I strenuously deny these allegations”

[@mynewcolour]

Ask them politely to demonstrate and watch them fold.

[@mariusb5150]

I, a Dutchman, worked 3 years for a UK company ... a bonus driven Anglo-Saxon company ... never before have I experienced a more by bonus intensified short term quick money forget about tomorrow incompetence. As well as coming to the conclusion that the UK is actually a second world country where a French type of revolution is long, long overdue; their are quite a lot of air-heads that ought to be set free...

[@shelaghlee90]

990

[@pauldad1]

Well done Ian Hislop now and for raising this issue for many years.

[@vickywitton1008]

Love Ian! His sense of righteous justice gives me hope

[@tenkloosterherman]

Ian Hislop deserves a Knighthood for his fight for the postmasters. That is, if he will accept it.

[@normanhunter7]

I didn't realize the Mafia was so powerful in the UK

[@wendymoney2043]

Love Ian Hislop + that was brilliant watching him slate the fatuous Jake Berry!

[@s.j.bluewater908]

The racial issue doesn’t need to be brought in - all colours were treated in a disgusting way by the post office and the investigators must be held accountable.

[@colinlothlorian]

The Child maintenance service will be the next scandal. They can decide that you are in arrears, ignore any evidence you provide to the contrary, the judge is not allowed to question their calculations and in any case they can stop money from your wages or take it from your bank account without ever having to go near the judicial system, you do not have any rights to challenge them. They said in a letter to my MP that they couldn't prove that I owed anything as they had destroyed the records, they had received my evidence that I had paid in full but not bothered confirming them with my ex, but they had told me that I owed nearly £12,000 and they were going to take it from my bank account. My bank account was frozen for two years. Guilty with no chance to prove innocence, no rights for a fair hearing, they are beholden to nobody.

[@SusanDean-n7x]

Despicable people. Greed and power chasing. Lock them up.

[@Flapsupnolights]

I want to know where all this money is that didn’t exist but was paid by these poor people to the post office. Some ones taken it. That needs to be investigated and recovered from anyone that benefited from it. We need to find this money

[@JulieLevinge]

But that has always been the case!! This is horrific & all those prosecuted deserve substantial damages, if this is proved to have a racial motive those damages must be doubled & those in receipt of bonuses for this appalling behaviour should be jailed! This behaviour must be punished to make certain they’re’s absolutely no incentive for this to happen again!!!

[@wendywebster5351]

This goes back even further as it now appears that Tony Blair was advised that the Horizon system may not be reliable but no action was taken.

[@johnj4860]

Plenty of guilt amongst the PO management but Hislop needs to remember Liebour and Lib-dums involvement too. He has a record of salivating over Tory misfortunes.

[@56postoffice]

And yet, the PO investigators insisted they never acted like the mafia. Yeah, I'd say extortion is underworld action.

[@brendamuirhead483]

Why can’t money be paid back under proceeds of crime legislation …

[@Mayah862]

Thanks

[@riggstwenty2]

I rarely get angry . But words cannot express my fury at this moment. New found respect for Hislop.

[@suechandler8162]

Absolutely disgusting. It can't get any worse can it? I cannot listen to any more, it is absolutely excruciating.

[@jb-ox2ro]

The Post Office scandal was horrendous for all those persecuted, regardless of skin colour. I would like to see justice for all, criminal prosecutions for many, compensation, although I am not sure how you begin to put a price on the levels of suffering.

[@martinjames9250]

Well said Ian. What a disgraceful way for the po to behave. 🤬

[@tamoorfromthe5ive]

If it wasn't for Have I Got News For You, I would not have become such a nerd and a fanatic for UK comedy, nor would I have any real knowledge of UK politics or found Novara. Ian Hislop is a true national treasure, and I am so immensely grateful for helping me find one of my key loves in life

[@LIONHEARTED20]

The guy on the right is so snotty and arrogant 🤬

[@Nick-xf5hr]

Post office management pensions should be suspended and bonuses paid back.

[@GWills-ys6rd]

ALL MPs CAN EXPECT THE SAME LAWFUL ATTITUDE FROM ANY MEMBER OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC DUE TO THE ERODED TRUST IN POLITICIANS AS A RESULT OF CATASTROPHIC GOVERNING!

[@Reed-bj2dt]

This has nothing to do with race. It is all about incompetence followed by a malicious cover up driven by avarice. Follow the money

[@jeanelizabethmarybowyerdem4181]

Ian, you are great.

[@Joseph-jy5lz]

Sounds like the federation rep wasn’t looking out for its members

[@spencerburrows6260]

Every bonus should be paid back with interest and given out to the Postmasters

[@paulspencer4713]

This really honestly and truly boils my piss, the fact it’s gone on twenty plus years and still this lot are dragging it out even though the truth is now out their for all to see, absolutely disgusting.

[@pw4444]

Well done ITV bringing this to light !

[@brendamuirhead483]

I hope we see a lot of prosecutions with realistic custodial sentences for those found guilty….like years in double numbers..

[@rumpoh8039]

NEFARIOUS PLAN TO CLOSE DOWN POST OFFICES...... VERY CAREFULLY run with RANK REWARDED TO CONSPIRATORS.

[@Crusty_Camper]

It's disgusting that the honest and honourable Post Master should be convicted and imprisoned IN OUR NAME. It can't be just left like this. Justice still has not been done.

[@philipknowles2912]

All those involved should be charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

[@rickjensen2717]

Important to remember that one of the key objectives of Government is to ensure that nothing changes!

[@davecap2641]

Ian Hislop is the best .

[@kevq761]

I just love Ian. He is so right

[@hurataimad136]

Ian Hislop has some background in this scandal. He published an article private eye asking where the editor of the BBC Panorama post office scandal was after he went on holiday and it looked likely he was going to pull the documentary because the post office's goons got to him. Ian Hislop more then done his bit.

[@milsimjedi]

Must be an election looming! 😉

[@nickwilliams1065]

And how many of the post office big wigs will face jail for their CRIMES against these innocent post masters? My guess is NON as they will be protected by their mates!!! Take their pensions, take their bonuses, take their civic awards, but most of all take their liberty.

[@philcarver9025]

perverting the course of justice. they should go to jail

[@henrietta1066]

Thank you Ian Hislop & ITV for exposing the incompetence, indifference towards the post office scandal

[@williamclifford4441]

And the same computer runs the Benefit system!

[@garyhuart7042]

Can we please.ease have an ITV program made about the massive amounts of excess deaths we are experiencing in the UK at the moment?

[@bettyswallocks6411]

‘Plausible deniability’ is a very broad umbrella, carried at all times by the powerful and influential.

[@becsutherland4506]

Good on Ian Hislop.

[@madhatter61]

It's always the same. Our local council changed tenancy agreements to defraud my parents of the right to buy on their council house. Judges turned a blind eye to it. It was all connected to him being a foreigner when he signed the tenancy agreement. The cost to us has been tens of thousands. 100 thousand with court costs, storage, court costs, loss of work.

[@kevinfarrell523]

Thank you Ian !!!!

[@Flapsupnolights]

Thanks for bringing this to light

[@RonaldChump]

It's surprising that no postmaster accused of theft had his/her accounts audited by a qualified accountant. Then they could have fought the court case.

[@DavidGirling]

That could have been done under the old paper based system, but my understanding is that the Horizon figures were the only ones available.

[@mrdaveythebaby]

The issue is that they no longer had access to the figures.