'Sunak cares more about Nigel Farage than the Post Office victims' | LBC

'Rishi Sunak was jumping up and down about Nigel Farage's banking arrangements.'
James O'Brien wonders why the Prime Minister 'didn't get his finger out' for the Horizon scandal victims until it became a TV drama - citing Sunak's 'eagerness' to stand up for Nigel Farage in his fallout with Coutts bank as an example of where 'his interests are'.
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[@conorbarry1928]

Lawyers who hide evidence to convict people who they know are innocent should be jailed

[@laggytim]

Knowingly convicting an innocent person. Yeah that's wrong.

[@jacintanandi7854]

yeah Camille Vasquez too btw

[@Setinmywaysalways]

Using the cost of Data, to prevent Disclosure.

[@lennonpolo]

@@laggytim Yeah your right! It's a bit like knowing about the grooming gang rap!sts and covering it up!

[@iananthonyjames]

Has this happened? What evidence do you have?

[@johnrussell3961]

The Tories ignored this issue until public anger made it an issue. Now they expect to be rewarded at the ballot box for doing something they should have done much earlier .

[@jonveness]

What stopped Labour doing something between 1999 and 2010 when these people were being sent to prison unjustly? They are as bad as each other

[@ChrisS-iu2gw]

This whole debacle has been suppressed for a reason. It goes way beyond Horizon (ironic name) ... Mandelson and bliar were both involved from the start. Someone needs to examine what went on from the award of contracts. It been suppressed for a reason, choreographed from the shadows .... someone has a lot to hide imho

[@keithewright]

@@jonveness No. They are both bad, but currently one is in power and is worse. That is the Tory Party

[@ricado372]

​@@jonvenesswhy are you asking why Labour didn't do something when the scandal was uncovered in 2020? Was it you just didn't think it through? Or do you know different?

[@sarangistudent8614]

@@ricado372the truth really doesn’t matter to them. Just blame everyone for themselves being a bunch of horrible, nasty liars. Did I read someone trying to blame Starmer as head of the CPS at the time of the prosecutions the other day. Then I found out that the CPS weren’t involved in any of the prosecutions as the PO acted as the crown in every case, which they could do at the time. So more lies. They really can’t tell the truth about anything, and these scandals and injustices are the result. Imagine, they gave Mone £300m in a few hours, no need for long drawn out investigations and lies for that. Was so easy for them to pull that out of the magic Mone-y hat.

[@stuartswain8785]

The best true drama I have watched for years. Well done ITV to take this up. Hope they do the same about the Corrupt PPE contracts and those involved.

[@susanmorgan3104]

Absolutely 👍🏻 agree. Also look into the DWP.

[@56postoffice]

Has to the best true life drama ITV did in a long, long time. Totally agree. It was the Private Eye journos who looked into it years ago.

[@gordonmackenzie4512]

@@susanmorgan3104Look up I, Daniel Blake, 2016 movie. If You haven’t already seen it.

[@chatham43]

@stuart...and the dodgy lockdown of the economy!

[@Royboy50]

And no mention of of itv chairman Crozier who was on the board at the time and should also be held to account

[@mrd64]

It's interesting that Sunak has only commented on this due to the TV show, and that so far less compensation has been paid out than he's giving to Rwanda.

[@nutwood5137]

I am disgusted by the number of Daily Mail pages covering the global globes annual event today - how is this a fraction of the importance of this cruel and unacceptable scandal?

[@DrMontague]

What else were you expecting from the right wing press?

[@chatham43]

...what's the global globes..?

[@HitchcockTheSnail]

The Daily Fail. Thank goodness the readership is dropping, finally

[@alexharrison2743]

​@@chatham43 film & television awards ceremony, similar to the Oscars

[@Vic35102]

It is disgusting that it took drama about that horrendous miscarriage of justice to get people in the mainstream media talking about this

[@paddymoore9314]

Including O'Brien

[@markbriten6999]

Errrr it's been in private eye for years

[@chatham43]

Absolutely.

[@LeafHuntress]

@@paddymoore9314 Not to put a fine point on it, but James O'Brien & Shelagh Fogerty were the only ones that talked about it. Not everyday or even every week, but i knew a bit about it thanks to them. Not by ANY other media.

[@paddymoore9314]

@@LeafHuntress When? Where was the campaign? When did JoB “ I’ve got a million listeners” mobilise his audience on behalf of the sub post masters? Never! Just the exploitation of others pain for his ratings. He Ioves you though. Unconditional love….the most exploitable kind

[@danburycollins]

Panorama covered the scandal as far back as 2015 - but still nothing was done at the time.

[@SimonSmith-yd6tt]

Tories and their cronies don't/didn't trust the BBC

[@janeknight3597]

You articulated my increasing unease with what I thought was “news broadcasting” Thank you.

[@sarangistudent8614]

It didn’t take them this long to find £300m for some faulty PPE.

[@chatham43]

...and the dodgy lockdown of the entire economy which the taxpayer will be paying off for years to come..!

[@allanmason3201]

@@user-cv1en2qt7x The Tories never have *anything* to do with *any* sort of scandal involving incompetence, insider-dealing or greed, right?

[@lw1zfog]

small beans when you compare it to that ‘wORLd beaTiNg tRicK & tRAp aPp’ that Dido Harding got an eye wateringly dericulous weekly wage for enabling.

[@mykelevangelista6492]

Vennells should be stripped of her CBE - stripped of it, not wait while she decides to hand it back herself - and be made to pay some financial restitution to the compensation fund. Also, Fujitsu should be made to contribute heavily to the compensation fund. They were arrogant in their refusal to accept liability even when it was shown that the software was full of bugs.

[@localreviewking134]

Adam Crozier, who was CEO of Royal Mail Group from 2003 to 2010 and oversaw the Post Office during the sub-postmaster scandal, later became CEO of ITV in 2011. Was he mentioned in the ITV drama? Possibly Fujitsu would have to be taken to court in Japan, or maybe the European Headquarters. What chance have lay people taking a case and winning a Japanese court is slim. Perhaps the UK Gov. taking the lead, might have more clout.

[@henrithehero]

Vennells got £2.2m of "performance related bonus" some of which will have been robbed from her victims. She won't give it back because she's going to need to spend it on expensive lawyers.

[@yetidodger6650]

she should be arrested for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

[@armadilloify]

I remember the statement at the start of the second or third episode that, “They are prepared to destroy our lives to defend a lie”. My thought was, “oh it’s just like Brexit then”. The drama showed a federation (union) man on a visit to Fujitsu HQ. He was shown a room full of computers, called the covert centre, where Fujitsu staff could adjust the figures on a sub postmasters PC remotely. These people could add thousands to a branches deficit with out consequence to themselves. This was denied in court for years.

[@jamessteel9016]

Inaction man cares more about being PM than anyone else

[@ajy4673]

Not for long, hopefully!

[@tblow370]

All about being the first british Asian PM, following Obama, all about the title for him.

[@vivienclogger]

My lodger was caught up in the scandal. She worked at a post office around 2010 and by then issues with Horizon were well known within the industry. Unfortunately, because it hadn't been publicly acknowledged by senior management, rather devious processes were in place when money went missing. Processes which meant temporarily moving money from one account to another. Unfortunately, an audit noticed this unauthorized transaction, so she was sacked for gross misconduct. There are probably hundreds of low tier workers who lost their jobs, because their attempts to get around the issues may have been understandable, but definitely not allowed. So yes, I know all about the Post Office scandal.

[@mharris7380]

Remember when the DVLA had been removing vehicle types from peoples licenses when people were renewing them and when DVLA were challenged on it they kept denying it was happening and someone even said they don't make mistakes? Well here we are again, a big organisation believing it can do no wrong, and even to question whether it can is considered by them to be wrong itself. Normal people worked for them and protected their employer by not speaking up or questioning the employers behaviour.

[@envy99976]

DVLA removed my C1 when I renewed my license without telling me. They said I have to reapply using a D4 form and get a medical check!

[@jamesmilne2455]

Fujistui did DVLA computers

[@mharris7380]

@@jamesmilne2455 Did they? There's a surprise.

[@Buddhavibez]

Infected blood inquiry, hillsborough inquiry, covid inquiry post office inquiry. See the pattern yet

[@David-j9h9g]

Take the CBE and give it to Alan Bates!!!!

[@Rachel_M_]

Alan turned down an OBE in the new years honours because "the job isn't done yet"

[@sarangistudent8614]

CBE- Corrupt Brexit Enabler

[@vinparaffin6082]

​@@Rachel_M_.....more like a keep quiet award !

[@chatham43]

Absolutely..and take the knighthood away from Davey!

[@Rachel_M_]

@@vinparaffin6082 he's probably not allowed to say that himself without fear of the PO suing him

[@Notmyname-he2qm]

Nigel Farage - the most stubborn skid mark on the underpants of democracy! Best quote of 2024 right there😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣😂

[@chatham43]

...about your level..☺

[@johnpugh3348]

He got us our democracy back

[@lynclarke6184]

That’s disgusting talking about anyone like that no matter your opinion. I doubt Mr. Farage would do the same but then he’s a gentleman. O’brien would do well to ask for some lessons in respect from Mr. Farage but then I doubt he’d listen.

[@johnpugh3348]

Well said. O"Brien is just plain nasty who purports to be a man of the people ,His private education with money and A lifestyle most of us could only dream off. Schumpeter is being proved right every day with these virtue signalling champagne socialists . @@lynclarke6184

[@stevemiller9299]

​@@lynclarke6184 O'brian is an obnoxious know it all, he just pours hate on the tories all the time

[@fr34k07]

I remember when this first happened, guess it always stuck in my mind why these innocent people were forgotten. And how the post office higher ups treated them. It's disgusting and should be never allowed to happen again. I hope we all hear more about this and that those people who were made out to be criminals have their names cleared once and for all and compensation for all the wrong doings

[@THissobeautiful]

I haven't yet seen the ITV drama. I was already very angry about the scandal. There's so many cases over the years where the government or people in power, or those mobilising the full weight of a company's legal right-dampening power, attempts to exhaust or crush the claimants or victims. Their legal legions will hope that many of the people die or go bankrupt. and do everything they can to achieve that end. I would hope that a drama about the contaminated blood scandal makes an incandescent public outcry.

[@Gts2pro]

Because unless it affects you directly then it doesn’t matter to people. If you think how this was handled and affected the poor people and families you still would be a million miles away to feeling how it actually was for these people”. It’s shameful how the Brand Post Office” treated them post masters and mistresses. The board members and managers responsible at the time “They should be charged and have a criminal record “. And heavily finned

[@johncooke8173]

Why did the Post Office lie and prosecute sub post masters to cover up for Fujitsu who continue to get government contracts?

[@matthewcoombs3282]

Your comment reminds me. I must go down to WH Smiths and top up my supply of plain brown paper envelopes........

[@tinakerr8163]

It was the old version of the vip lane when they actually tried to hide it rather that just blatantly hand out contracts to their cronies

[@Napoleonwilson1973]

Masonry

[@KaloMorace]

Take the post masters to court for money you never earnt and have damages awarded to you that in effect is pure profit? Hmmmmm 🤔

[@AlisonMcGlone]

Apparently the CEO of Fujitsu in the UK, is the education secretary Gillian Keegan's husband.....wonder why??

[@leighinibiza]

The BBC Panorama program on the subject from 2022 shows how much more shocking it is than the ITV program and documentary is able to.

[@dantootill]

Exactly. Anyone who saw it would have been just as upset and angry then, I know I was.

[@harveysmith100]

Can I just compliment Toby Jones for his portrayal of Mr Bates. He is a fine actor indeed.

[@thetruth7386]

Always thought he was great in Anthropoid.

[@yellowcake1964]

Spot on!

[@stephenhodgson3506]

What I find amazing in this scandal is the people who appear to have been left out of the blame. Quite rightly we are asking questions about the government and its slow response to the scandal. We are quite rightly condemning and asking very serious questions of those managers in the Post Office who lied and mounted a coverup to protect their positions. But just where is the reporting on Fujitsu who provided a computer system that cost the UK taxpayer close on £1 billion and was not fit for purpose. Why are questions not been asked about why they are not been asked to give the money back that they received for something that simply didn't work and caused such misery for so many. The government should be saying to Fujitsu return the money you were paid or you will be banned from ever doing business with the UK government again. That's the money that should be used to pay compensation not more tax payers money.

[@kitm141]

Exactly right. This wasn’t just a dodgy system, the provider knew there was an issue and fearing the loss of revenue, let innocent people take the blame. Where is the investigation into who gave that instruction? The people at the helpline didn’t decide, someone much higher up did.

[@susanmorgan3104]

Completely agree 👍🏻. Fujitsu should be paying the compensation. What happened to all the money that was paid by the sub postmaster. Was the post office using it to boost their profits?

[@davidcronan4072]

Next week the public enquiry is due to question several current and former employees from Fujitsu, including both software engineers and those who supported the Post Office to take the prosecutions to court. Should be interesting, as long as they don't all suffer from amnesia, as has happened to other witnesses to the enquiry. @@susanmorgan3104

[@stephenhodgson3506]

@@susanmorgan3104 as I understand it the police are now investigating that as a matter of fraud.

[@susanmorgan3104]

@@stephenhodgson3506 Hi Stephen, Thanks for that info....I really hope they do bring some charges, considering jujitsu are running various government contracts.

[@VickySmith-iw1ph]

Of course he does, he hasn’t got a clue what to do about the post office situation and has probably been told by those really in charge to do nothing.

[@VickySmith-iw1ph]

@@Craig121000 Everyone is allowed an opinion and my opinion is that sometimes when people haven’t really got a viable point of view they shout conspiracy and yes i’m also over opinionated but at least i have something valid to say about what’s going on in the world.

[@VickySmith-iw1ph]

@@Craig121000 When people shout conspiracies at anything that’s said it’s better to say nothing 🤫

[@lowerorchard]

It follows a very sad and similar pattern… Hillsborough, Grenfell, PPE are examples just off the top of my head. Corruption is endemic at the core.

[@lesbeswick6172]

It is about time that the judges who make errors such as this were held responsible for their actions, and made fully accountable for their actions whereby these same judges have destroyed peoples lives.

[@highmillpickering2470]

The cases were judged on false evidence and deliberate omissions by the Post office. Hardly fair to blame judges. However, where are the convictions for fraud, perverting the course of justice, perjury, false accounting etc etc against the PO and Fujitsu?

[@lesbeswick6172]

@@highmillpickering2470 I was led to believe judges were the clever people who listened to the evidence and made the decisions, that has been my experience of judges in divorce courts, no jury present.

[@lesbeswick6172]

@@redred7289 judges are not keen to have juries, as they waste time and do not give the results that the judge requires

[@lesbeswick6172]

@@highmillpickering2470 it is fair to say that judges are as responsible as anyone else in these matters, after all, they oversee the outcomes.

[@lesbeswick6172]

@@redred7289 I didn't use the word convict, did I ?????

[@Simon-zb6fp]

I would have thought a blanket Royal Pardon to all sub postmasters would deal with the court cases. We should not allow the court delays to stop this!

[@ANonymous-p5x5n]

Precisely.

[@stuartralphson539]

I remember these convictions being questioned on Radio 1's new segment when I was working in a Spar with a post office over 15 years ago, can't believe this is still an on going issue. Also, if the accounting system was saying there was a shortfall surely at the end of year the cost/sales difference would have resulted in a unaccounted for profit margin? Who failed to noticed that the year(s) they started seeing massive losses at the post office sites Head Office was seeing massive boost in margins? or was someone creaming that off the top?

[@graemehancocks4171]

I have been reading about the post office horizon scandal from 13 years ago in Private Eye and could never understand why this story was not causing a huge storm as found it so horrendous. But then again look who have been power for the last 14 years?

[@nigelsynnott7344]

@@Craig121000 And your point is?

[@nigelsynnott7344]

@@Craig121000 A nice point, well made. Thanks!

[@ANonymous-p5x5n]

Because some of them were no doubt financially tied to contracts in some way or another….

[@callum9999]

"Why did it take a drama for people to take notice about this?" Because the majority of this country are not only ignorant of what is going on, but are knowingly ignorant and are content to stay that way. While many like to blame "the establishment" etc. for why we have the politics/media landscape we do, we live in a democracy (hard to believe sometimes I know, but we do). If the public actually wanted the Tories out, they'd be out (granted they likely will be next time, but they've won the last four and the public have made no effort to have a greater say by, for example, gaining the right for recall referendums). If they actually wanted to view unbiased media, they'd watch it. If they actually wanted major corporations held to account, they'd push for it. I know the common mantra is that these people are all being tricked by nefarious, shadowy forces, but I think the unpleasant reality is that people just don't care.

[@DrMontague]

This would also apply to the mentality of Sub post masters, would they have given a monkey's toss if about injustices or wrongful convictions of others

[@betperrins7528]

People get the government they deserve.

[@095daz]

Well put Callum I have been saying this for years people are lazy and find it easier for governments to think for them and for them to follow instead of working it out for themselves. The sad thing is those in power know it.

[@markbriten6999]

​@@DrMontagueyes quite probably. Just because you don't, don't tar the rest of us with the same brush

[@DrMontague]

@@markbriten6999 What you on about?

[@kiranbarrow4648]

Elites care for Elites who cares about us???

[@sambirch6784]

This wasn't the first time a docu-drama had been used to raise awareness of a cruel injustice orchestrated by corporate/government interests. The Jimmy McGovern drama 'Hillsborough' was released in 1996, six years after the event, and it was the first time the general public were really exposed to the collective injustice that was unfolding. These kind of dramas are incredibly powerful because they speak directly to the public and show them, not tell them, that the victims of these injustices are exactly like you or I, not faceless or nameless individuals. Humans are a quite a selfish species and until we see an element of ourselves in the victims of events like this we are generally capable of ignoring them.

[@SuperBratters]

We know a retired sub postmaster who luckily wasn't caught up in this scandal. Never the less, we have followed this story with particular interest from the beggining. Seeing the drama however is I think is much more emotionally involving than print or documentaries and had me in tears.

[@Gonzoweb69]

Full respect for talking about Private Eye. It should be required reading for anyone who wants the truth ferreted out. It is the only physical news source I read and is often ahead of the game for these types of complicated news stories. Unfortunately, it can make one feel incredibly jaded when you realise exactly how much corruption, crime and self-serving actions are practised by some people in power nationwide (MP's, Councillors, businesses and Corporations etc)

[@peterbrailey1788]

Just a shame the Windrush drama, the Grenfell documentary and the Partygate drama didn't have repercussions at all like this

[@matthewcoombs3282]

Just another episode to add to those you stated to make me lose faith in this country. Shame on them. I loathe them all. Westminster is rotten to the core.

[@firefox5926]

5:20 makes you wonder what else might be out there waiting to be found ...

[@trevormj]

As an Accountant who has conducted and received many financial audits - I cannot understand why a thorough forensic financial audit of one or more incident could not drive out the problem - for every debit there is a credit - a proper audit should have been able to determine where the problem was - unless they did not wish to find it.

[@bandit2048]

I totally agree - it seems unbelievable that nobody thought to/wanted to investigate the computer system itself !

[@alisonwilson9749]

IIRC it was duplicating transactions. But I agree- competent accounting ought to have found the errors.

[@lewismcdonald3616]

They found there was no theft and still prosecuted to justify the horizon system

[@ChrisS-iu2gw]

It seems Mandelson was involved in the procurement /commissioning/implementation of Horizon . Could all the delays and trips down rabbit holes over the years be designed to deflect from the real truth of what went on? They need to look at all the Fujitsu Horizon contract details and who was involved in the shadows. It looks to me that this whole debacle has been choreographed and manipulated from those shadows.

[@JohnLedger-g4i]

Thank you for praising Nick Wallis. He started the story from a few snippets of information which led him to Alan Bates. Give him an honour too.

[@ljs399]

I still remember reading about a local sub postmaster who was jailed, obviously his business failed, his marriage failed, his house was repossessed and iirc when he came out of jail but then took his own life. He and his family can never recover what was lost. It’s unsurprising that our esteemed PM is now finally taking an interest following a TV series which almost everyone is talking about. Is there an election coming up?

[@mickrap6001]

When you have about 8 people being taken to court for theft, then may be it's understandable but when it comes to 150 then it's suspect when it comes to 700 and more then somebody up top of the post office should go to prison for fraud that is what i think i believe it could be kick backs in other words money changing hands, but who knows.

[@mharris7380]

When we've done something wrong, it takes businesses a few days or weeks to find us guilty and make up pay. When they have it takes years and even then they don't always pay. But to correct James here. The errors weren't made by a computer program. They were made by people. Computer problems arise when the programmers have messed up the code. The code doesn't mess itself up.

[@matthewv4170]

You can tell you don't code.

[@JenKirby]

As they used to say in the early days of computers: garbage in garbage out. The code doesn’t write itself.

[@Paul-eb4jp]

Farage the most stubborn skidmark on the underpants of British politics, thanks for that James it's brilliant.

[@gethyped6684]

Wonder what Nigel,s opinion of O,Brian is 😂

[@gwenmitchell3207]

Love this comment 😅

[@Beanybob]

Why because he informs us what’s really going on issues such as immigration etc.

[@johnlewis9158]

I don't remember O'Brien or any of his left wing comrades paying any attention whatsoever to this travesty of justice, perhaps because everyone or nearly everyone involved in this travesty is a Caucasian.

[@jeffchuckletruckwilkinson9257]

​@@Beanybobwell said

[@marionmclean3749]

Politicians need to pay more attention to issues covered by Private Eye. There is a lot of important stuff being reported in there that needs to be addressed in Parliament.

[@ronredron]

Sunak needs to fully compensate these people and after "all moneys" are fully reimbursed then he should reclaim all payments from those who perpetrated this scandal. It's not for the public to pay for the crimes of others.

[@tygraig2721]

I couldn't agree with you more regarding the journalistic strength of Private Eye.

[@tonytroiani6599]

As well as being a true story which has exposed shocking truths which were covered up. The Drama Mr bates verses the post off was an exceptional drama. This strongly highlights how important Unions are for ordinary Working Men and Women. Mr Bates organised a Union of Men and Women which was all it was, because he understood he would have no chance against corporate power which the post office had bought into, on his own or just a handful of Post masters. Had the post masters been effectively unionized from the outset the post off wouldn't have been able to say you're the only one who has had this problem with this computer system. This event and drama of this event should be a message to everyone. You cant do it on your own!

[@ANonymous-p5x5n]

And why we need Unions.

[@labbertubes]

I don't live in the UK. I'm not that connected. My surprise is, this is still a thing? This has not been fixed yet? THIS HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET!?

[@MarcLawson-m6q]

None of us believed that such a miscarriage of justice could happen in the U.K. well done to those who exposed it! 12:45

[@matthewcoombs3282]

Try telling that to Stephan Kiszko or the Birmingham Six......

[@paulwebster4499]

Open and shut case for me pay compensation to all effected from the goverment.The UK government then needs to claim all of the costs compensation and legal fees etc from Fujitsu.

[@ThomasKing19933]

The Tories look after their cronies. It's always the same.

[@nick1065]

You timed that comment wrong Thomas….had to scroll down a bit to find you. Better luck next time eh?

[@ThomasKing19933]

​@@nick1065 You still going? Blimey, I'd forgotten about you.

[@marklucas8110]

Now we need a new TV drama around the scandal that was Grenfell Tower. Nearly seven years on and as far as I know, no-one has been prosecuted or taken to task. Or maybe we should have a Panorama programme on the RAAC scandal affecting crumbling schools, hospitals and other public buildings. Don't even get me started on destitution and child poverty, which is a stain on this government.

[@niccolamachiavelli8094]

Part of the problem was that it was the Post Office prosecuting the Sub Post Officers itself. This meant that they were prosecuting individual SPO's in different courts up and down the country, meaning that it was only covered, if at all, by the local newspaper, which, again, worked in the PO's favour.

[@ANonymous-p5x5n]

Disgraceful that they have their own legal powers of prosecution, because this ultimately leads to cover ups. Case in point.

[@bowlingarry]

The Farage statement is quite possibly the finest description of an individual that I have ever heard in my life. Sublime genius Jimmy❤

[@clivet3252]

How does he manage to make this about Farage?

[@BillyBobJoeSnr]

This reminds me of what a German senior manager said after we'd finished an economics lecture; "For capitalism to work someone has to be exploited.."

[@Jon-hh3gz]

It's actually been since 1995/6 as a trial of the horizon system was done then and people were prosecuted then. Think computer weekly need a prime mention too they were the first to make this public.

[@bandit2048]

I am ashamed over all this - I have read bits of reporting on this over a number of years and thought I knew about it in a vague and woolly fashion but just somehow assumed it had been settled.I had no idea of the extent of this which is a horrendous cover up nor the way that peoples' lives have been impacted. So yes. it has taken a drama to bring it home to me and for me to understand it.

[@pavvel9884]

Did you talk about this over the years James, before the drama?

[@Setinmywaysalways]

Following this Enquiry, i have never heard so many people say when asked a pointed question state " I cannot recall", but can then recall everything else.

[@alisonwilson9749]

I take it you didn't see Cameron pulling that stunt at the Leveson inquiry? Or current and former government ministers (Including Johnson) at the covid inquiry before Christmas?

[@janwallace5005]

The other question that has to be asked is 'How much longer is the Post Office going to be a law unto itself?' Had they had to go through normal channels the CPS would have realised there was something wrong with their system. Now the Post Office has been effectively sold off and is a private company they should not have this level of power.

[@alisonwilson9749]

The RSPCA went the same way when it too could bring prosecutions. That should be something reserved for the police and CPS.

[@paulharrion3398]

Private Eye doesn't always get it right but it's streets ahead of the vast majority of the UK's MSM...

[@1inchPunchBowl]

Can we assume Mone & her husband will be pursued in the same way? No? thought not.

[@Contextualiser16-tn8nd]

If enough people kicked up a fuss it would happen,but protecting white privilege is too important to most in this nation

[@RobRowe-j6w]

As well as removing her award what about her bonus and her pension she is laughing all the way to the bank. No scruples she is saying she will help with inquiry which she created.

[@nazreenhassan3469]

Radio 4 have been covering this regularly for years, in the format of documentary series. They recently broadcast another (4th one, I think) series covering the updates.

[@AKAtAGG]

The Paul Foot Awards (courtesy of the Eye) are there to highlight that the journalism you sorely miss (as do I) is still actually there, albeit perhaps less frequently than we would prefer. Should point out that Computer World were first in for the Horizon scandal, the Eye took their lead and went with it.

[@paulb9003]

Radio 4 have been following this for years. See BBC sounds ‘the great post office scandal series’.

[@GraemeRoberts]

Bonkers that it's taken a TV drama for people to become aware of and outraged by the Post Office/Fujitsu Horizon scandal, but credit to those involved with the show for making it so impactful. Several senior people at the Post Office and Fujitsu should be in jail.

[@barrygentry5364]

Always enjoy listening to James but his description of Nigel Farage is the best I have ever heard. Well said that man.

[@strikemehandsome]

In 2010 David Cameron declared that Britain was Broken Britain. What is it now?

[@DavesGarden1714]

Fourteen years of Tory government and our country is unrecognisable and a very dangerous place to live

[@tinakerr8163]

Do we think that many of our media barons rub shoulders with people who have similar (but smaller?) skeletons in their cupboards? What connections did venells have clearly she was well enough connected for a CBE. And what else was Fujitsu working on where engineers had backdoor access to alter live data?

[@nikolaslarson6891]

It's an immense tragedy... How can such an injustice take place in a modern democracy? I'm stunned and I don't know what to say. I only feel shame...

[@AlexKavanagh29x]

Computer Weekly was reporting this scandal since the late 90s/early 2000s. It's largely a case of "well the computer says this" and people believing it, rather than questioning whether the software is actually correctly written and tested. Plus, lots of people allegedly lied, it appears, in the Post Office and Fujitsu. So a power imbalance between 800lb Post Officer and 1lb subpostmasters. It's obvious, in hindsight, why this happened. What's important is that they are fairly/equitably recompensed, that the perpetrators in the PO and Fujitsu are held to account/prosecuted and steps taken to ensure it never happens again.

[@applefutureinc]

The ill and evil, is from within; not immigrant, not someone else, not the world.

[@andrewmaccallum2367]

Never trust any tory!

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

it just shows how the justice system works against ordinary people . They can't afford lawyers ; where as the rich can even when they are guilty the system covers them for years . Common sense would say it's highly unlikely hundreds of individual people who have no real connection to each other would all start stealing at the same time ; it's frankly ludicrous . For a start these people are being assumed as guilty ; beforehand . It's not as if there have not been many errors on computer systems since their adoption in the 1990s . I remember the NHS systems never worked properly in the 1990s . When hundreds of accounts were showing anomalies ; the first thing that should be done is check the software ; not assume that overnight hundreds of sub post office people have suddenly become criminals . Either the checks were not done properly or somebodies in the Post Office are covering up the truth in which case they are criminals . Pursuing false prosecutions in spite of the facts .

[@alisonwilson9749]

And they were lied to and told they were the only one, which presumably was to stop- them seeking each other out and fighting back.

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

yes this further shows the dishonesty by the post office reps.@@alisonwilson9749

[@robinedminson6461]

I remember reading the original article in Computer Weekly. I also recall the private wire maintenance engineers being called out to 'reported' faults on Horizon circuits to Sub Post Offices

[@stordarth]

I honestly think that a lot of people just didn't know about it. When this started in the 90s, I was still in high school. I didn't really watch or read the news. We might have heard it in passing but were maybe not old, worldly, mature or aware enough to fully understand. I think that is probably true of a lot of my generation; today's adults had enough on their minds with school work, exams, college and university prospects, that stuff like this went under the radar or washed over us. The drama is potentially the first time that many 20-40 year olds will be hearing about this while also having grown up enough to view it through a politically mature lens. I'm now 40, and I can honestly say that this is the first time hearing about this scandal as far as I can recall.

[@monkeyboyclyde]

It took a drama because t.v shows are what people pay attention to . The news moves so fast these days that scandals in morning papers get pushed aside by the afternoons ones and scandals have been ten a penny for the last decade or so , its overwhelming and folk just tune out . The gov. are well aware of this and make the most of it too

[@friedaelizabethchorlton8654]

Thank you James. You have really informed me. I have not had a telly for well over 36 years so I miss a lot. I think the Post Office and Fujitsu should have to pay these people compensation from their ill gotten profits. The Post Office head should be forced to give her CBE back now,

[@Marvel64]

We need a drama about the PPE scandal next, please

[@davidioanhedges]

Private Eye : Circulation ~ 200,000 - all of whom are used to this kind of thing ITV : Mr Bates vs The Post Office : 9.2 million ...

[@Bringthegoose]

Exoneration and a flaccid empty apology from an equally flaccid prime minister, doesn't go even nearly far enough. There are individuals, some of whom still hold executive positions within Royal Mail and fujitsu, who should be serving time for this. Innocent people lost everything, upto and including their freedoms and liberties, and some paid with their lives. Those people in high positions of Royal Mail knowingly sent them like lambs to the slaughter Into a kangaroo court, on charges largely based upon lies, deceit and gross negligence where they didn't stand a chance. It's about time that the money stops talking and that the elites are made accountable, and face up to their crimes with punishments that fit! Where is the king on this? Considering the cases were headed... Postmaster vs the crown. The facts and figures of this escapade are utterly shocking and disgusting. Public opinion of the justice system is already fragile at best. This is just another example of how broken, out of touch and deplorable the system really is. Britain is a democracy they say, while throwing another pleb in the fire!

[@AnkylosingSpondylitisMan]

"Farage; the most stubborn skidmark on the underpants of British politics" 😂 Absolutely brilliant 😂😂

[@greenthing99100]

if Sunak really cared about this injustice why didn't he shout it from the treetops as soon as it became obvious that they were ALL innocent and that every relevant system in this miserable little country was dragging its feet to slow down getting the injustice righted?

[@Germanmick]

Marina Hyde in the Guardian has been banging on about this scandal for years and banging the drum for the victims.

[@markherzog9484]

I’ve been a PE subscriber for years and a reader since the early 70’s, never fails to be ahead of the curve in investigative journalism…… take any ‘scandal’ be it business or politics, it was always in PE for weeks, months or years…….MSM is no longer investigative, by and large, it’s all editorial or political opinions, the only two things I ever regard as truthful in the papers are the weather and football results. Even then, I look out the window or check the BBC footie pages………

[@mariGentle]

Why didn’t the PO pay costs at court if they lost and why has no-one been reimbursed the stolen money, and did horizon only create deficits.

[@annegoodridge8174]

The Daily Fail - sorry Mail - head line states that its time to deliver on PO 'payouts'. The very word implies a windfall, a bonus. Not compensation. Also no mention of convictions, culpability, liability!

[@paulmoorby2297]

Sunak only cares about Sunak !! Him and his Chums ,Don't care about us Plebs, Only about lineing there Pockets

[@michaelcoward1902]

You'd have a hard job ripping off the post office...the shareholders don't tend to leave much left.

[@matthewv4170]

It's still owned by the government

[@Scanini]

Im back to work tomorrow after a lovely xmas break, the only thing i have remotely comforting is James in my cockpit between jobs... Sad I know but the man literally keeps me sane and focused on the enemy

[@Jon-xw9om]

One judge has referred his trial records to the police, asking them to investigate possible cases of perjury and perverting the course of justice by Fujitsu. And if one referral, then why not the hundreds of other trials based on the same lie? 'Fruits of the poisoned tree' idea?

[@VickySmith-iw1ph]

Love private eye 👍 tells you what you need to know..the truth... not what they’re allowed to say like others.

[@callum9999]

The "others" are allowed to say whatever they want. That's the issue in fact!

[@alisonwilson9749]

@@callum9999 depends on their owners. often foreign, and don't pay tax here as we do.

[@patbaker2199]

The whole post office scandal is terrible, but it's also dissapointing it took a TV show for most people to take notice. Shame.

[@aauden]

Just illustrates the primacy of Corporations over people in our late stage capitalist hellscape. Party finances completely dependent on donations from corporates / lobbyists.

[@garrysimpson1395]

My late father and now myself have been a subscriber since 1971.

[@localreviewking134]

Perhaps the mention of Adam Crozier here as he wasn't mentioned in the ITV drama "Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office." This omission has sparked controversy, with some viewers and former sub-postmasters criticizing ITV for downplaying his role in the scandal. Maybe Adam was a clean sheet in the treatment of sub-postmasters.

[@clungebucket23]

I still don't understand how a commercial organisation whether under public or private ownership has that level of power with zero oversight or accountability and accuse innocent people without any evidence

[@jamest5149]

James, it wasn’t 100’s of sub-postmasters…. It was thousands that was effected, you are just using the criminal conviction number and not those that had to pay back moneys not actually owed and lost their jobs, lively hoods and homes through this. Use the digger number because they are all affected and need our knowledge of this and support.

[@DrMontague]

Dramas can show human emotions which we can associate with, reading an article in a newspaper doesn't have the same impact