NFSP make statement and Apology re George Thomson at

I read out an Apology make by CEO of National Federation of Sub Postmasters about the previous General Secretary George Thompson at the Post office Public inquiry.

[@Lynnefromlyn]

I hope the union cancels his pension. I watched this bully giving his evidence the other day in utter and complete disgust.

[@crightonm5703]

Can't and shouldn't cancel a persons pension, however it is clear he (and many others in this inquiry) will be and should be completely ostracised from society and rightly so. Some should go to jail. The 'union'allowed this man to lead them - questions are to be asked of many in this union, not just him.

[@jeangenie5807]

​@@crightonm5703I agree with your point about people shouldn't lose his pension for being an arrogant, incompetent, officer of the NFSP. However, please do not consider the NFSP to be a union in the normal sense of the term. It was a business association, which was there to support Spmrs and get good deals on things like insurance, business support, offer advice and assistance, share intelligence on frauds and scams etc., but it was also supposed to support its members when they faced difficulties within their businesses. It failed miserably under this appalling witness.

[@iantimpany5667]

It's an interesting point. Thompson's 'union' is really an in-house management tool rather than a union representing the interests of its members as TUC- affiliated unions are. But I would be surprised if they don't have some provision for disciplinary action agains anyone who brings the union into disrepute, as Thompson has spectacularly done

[@c-9233]

@@crightonm5703 It is not beyond the realms of possibility that in a situation where there is a civil claim against someone, their pension income can be arrested in payment of damages

[@GurungyNoHamuster]

You've got to think what a pension is for. It is to support the retirement of people who did an honest job properly. He didn't.

[@christopherc7757]

Thomson's evidence on Friday was truly breathtaking and sadly yet another example of how he and so many Post Office executives were in utter and total denial concerning Horizon's unreliability. He came over as an aggressive, arrogant and unintelligent thug, (his choice of attire alone set the tone for the day) which was evidenced by his complete failure to recognise reality. Shame on him. A big shout out is due to Julian Blake, who has my admiration for the way he maintained his now trademark cool, calm demeanour whilst dealing with such an oaf.

[@georgeelliott5613]

He was not an executive of the post office he was the chairman of the Federation of post masters IE he was their Union Rep but by his attitude I believe he was bought and paid for by the post office and betrayed his position and the Sub Post Masters

[@whatifschrodingersboxwasacofin]

It is wild that this is unfolding in real time. Fascinating! And so, so sad. 🇨🇦

[@whatifschrodingersboxwasacofin]

I’m a retired solicitor, and I am SO impressed by all of the Inquiry counsel. Mr. Beer in particular, but each of them is just wonderful to watch, and this was top notch Blake. All of them so calm and unflappable. I’ll bet they schedule meetings where they just sit in a board room practicing their penetrating glares on each other. I’ll also bet that the boardroom windows break first.

[@cndns2]

Another one bites the dust. Horrible ignorant man devoid of compassion and understanding. He will be judged by his deeds.

[@owstonlad3859]

Ha, they can't all be Sam Steins.

[@GreySphinkter]

I watched him give evidence, the bloke is the living embodiment of Judas.

[@margaretfitzgerald1489]

My words exactly Judas shame on him

[@jmcdowall2001]

Definitely too close to the post office and basically in their pocket. I don't he he intentionally tried to protect them but he was conscious he needed them and wasn't going to bite the hand that fed him. He also just wouldn't shut up in the hope that the KC would run out of time.

[@kmooney1954]

@@jmcdowall2001 ??? OMG! Of course he intentionally protected his bosses - POL. It's very naive to think otherwise.

[@barbra7562]

I think that’s a bit hard on Judas to be honest.

[@exdoode]

he was definitely getting some perks

[@pamphillips4055]

I was horrified,appalled and sickened by this poor excuse of a human being.

[@RichardReid-l3c]

This enquiry has gone on for long enough , it is now time for arrests and criminal charges.

[@thisiszaphod]

No arrest and criminal charges will be brought and made UNTIL the inquiry concludes and Sir Wyn publishes his findings, and rightly so.

[@EWAScotland]

The establishment looks after its own, no one of any seniority will be charged. They might throw one or two plebs to the wolves, but that’s it.

[@johnenglish929]

@@thisiszaphod I agree about waiting until the Inquiry concludes, but can’t see the need to wait until the report is actually published.. The report itself is not evidential.

[@chrisstevens2706]

The answer to the question of " why" posed by the presenter in regard to Georges truculence, is this: a defence is being contrived when charges of conspiracy to pervert are presented.

[@ChrisM541]

@@johnenglish929 Wyn's report will empower what happens next, one way or another. If he, as he damn well should, damn everyone involved (PO, Fujitsu, legal sub contractors, stakeholder(!!), etc) in his writeup - and (crucially) leave no guessing as to the personnel/names implicated then criminal prosecutions can begin with all the legal tools it needs. The danger is that Sir Wyn 'blames the system'. And/or, picks a ground troop scapegoat (i.e. not Vennells & Co) - That would be damning on Sir Wyn as that would paint all the hard work done by the enquiry in grey...never a good colour. As we all know there are a lot more names to blame than next week's Gareth Jenkins, as hugely revealing as that should be. Jenkins did NOT act alone - EVERYONE of note was fully aware of all the damaging bugs, errors and defects. We'll see.

[@susieq3260]

George Thomson is an absolute disgrace! Hope this apology is genuine and not just a PR exercise.

[@laurieharper1526]

I think it's a bit of both. The present NFSP leadership probably is ashamed of what happened. They also realise that they had better show some contrition if they want to survive.

[@kcribin5654]

More a PR exercise than anything else.

[@wendysimpson6395]

I found his evidence on a par with the PO prosecutors. Arrogant, down right rude and nasty.

[@oiooi6460]

​To be fair, didn't the current CEO of the union, Calum Greenhow, call Mr Thomson out for his ridiculous blind loyalty to the post office and Horizon while Mr Thomson was still in office ? ​@laurieharper1526

[@Lynnefromlyn]

@@kcribin5654you cannot know that one way or the other.

[@gizmoinasia6080]

Hrs a disgrace he knew what was going on and should be prosecuted for his criminal actions.

[@patpat4317]

Sam Stein summed him up. Aggressive and belligerent. It’s a pity Ed Henry wasn’t there to question him as well.

[@johncolley7643]

Hope he gets taken through the courts, please please Sir Alan Bates add him to your list.

[@thisiszaphod]

Sir, to you! 😉

[@johncolley7643]

@@thisiszaphod oops Sorry no disrespect implied Sir Alan

[@raymond3021]

Sir Wyn's report will be the nails in all THEIR coffins!

[@margaretfitzgerald1489]

Let’s hope so

[@DennisHughes-h8b]

He should be charged with failing to carry out his as he was paid to do. The horrible man was disgusting towards the Barristers and even the judge on one occasion. A disgrace and am sure a charge could be found to take him to court. A belligerent and disgusting example of an arrogant and obnoxious twerp. I just wish I lived near him. I would certainly let him know that he was a downright coward and was just as responsible as Paula Vennells and the others for sending innocent people to jail. And to think the PO paid £175000 every year to the union for him to be their yes man on issues.

[@hughgordon6435]

malfeasance in office is (in some cases) a criminal offence?😅

[@noelmorris1787]

Although the apology appears genuine, I would have to question how,or indeed if, one person could drag along and entire organisation in his wake. Clearly the "union" became another department of the post office during his time, but how did everyone else acquiesce in this state of affairs,which they clearly did? Do they still get the majority of their funding from the post office? I would suggest their Damascus conversion arose because they are now facing a crisis themselves. I can't imagine any postmaster would allow themselves be represented by this organisation any longer,so they will likely close soon anyway. And good riddance.

[@bobdean5728]

WOW was that how much he was given . . . (I nearly wrote 'earned' then)

[@jamesp8569]

Sadly, being an obnoxious oaf is neither a civil nor criminal offence. Unless there is other evidence that we haven't seen his self implosion will be commented on but that's it. I didn't know he was paid £175k pa. No wonder he was the eyes and ears for the PO in the federation (remember that it's not a trade union). I wonder if he gets a PO funded pension too.

[@BrianGoulden]

I suspect this creature was aggressove and bullyi g to.his colleagues in thd NFSP - an old-style thug. His manner of dress and demeanour at the inquiry soeaks of his lack of respecy for the Inquiry and the people involved.​@noelmorris1787

[@davidhenry1581]

Thug is the right word !!!!!

[@Tomboy007]

Seems to me from hearing his evidence he was more concerned with kissing the butt of the PO than he was in listening to the complaints of the members he was supposed to be representing. To dismiss Alan Bates concerns as "rubbish" tells us all we need to know about this disgraceful individual.

[@williambyron564]

Why did he keep harping on about prosecutions BEFORE Horizon roll out? Thick egotistical obnoxious clown.

[@dizwell]

See, the Post Office executive made him feel important: someone they consulted with at various times, someone whose views they canvassed. Witness his outrage at the Board appointing Second Sight. It wasn't the appointment he objected to: it was the fact the Board did it without consulting him first. The horror! The man thought he was an important cog in Post Office Limited, practically with a seat on the Board. He had completely lost sight of why he was in any position of influence at all in the first place: that he was there to assert the interests of his members _against_ the corporate interests of the Board. Regulatory capture at its finest. The man is an absolute disgrace and should be ashamed of himself. But his evidence, bizarre as it was, is fundamental in understanding why this saga went on for 20 years before getting traction: when your own representative thinks you aren't worth his time, why would Paula and Alice think anything different? His evidence was crucial in understanding just how rotten the Post Office culture had gotten; just how deep the corruption went.

[@brianlopez8855]

The NFSP was designed and set up by the PO to KISS its butt. Its NOT a Trades Union

[@Tomboy007]

@@dizwell Could not disagree with a word you've written here. I'm convinced he has walked away from giving his evidence thinking he did a brilliant job at the hearing. Far from ashamed. I hope the inquiry gives him the blame he deserves.

[@1johnkilleen]

13.04 Fantastic to read all the sensible comments. Wouldn't it be lovely if at least some of his pension could be taken off him. I fear there's not a snowballs chance in he'll of that happening

[@leekitchen1195]

Thompson is a disgrace

[@RichardVassie]

This creature is a "Bell End".

[@johntomlinson6849]

The NFSP previously refused to make any comment on the situation saying that it wouldn't be the right thing to do while the inquiry was in progress. Then their old head honcho drops them in the dog's doo-dar and all of a sudden they offer "sincere" apologies. Do not be taken in by them. This is just damage limitation.They also talk about being open and transparent but have blocked comments in their facebook page and never update their twitter page. Get your pinches of salt ready!

[@rog2224]

As a rule of thumb "open and transparent" tends to be used mostly in a context Orwell warned us about.

[@JohnReesPhotography]

Mr Thompson is obviously ‘not the sharpest tool in the shed’. How on earth did the NFSP ever give him the job in the first place? Just listen to the way he harps on it’s obvious that he’s a ‘muppet’. He just made himself look like a fool and a total embarrassment to his family and the NFSP.

[@ParanormalUKNetwork]

Look up the Dunning-Kruger effect or syndrome; he's a perfect example.

[@jonm7272]

It's quite telling just how many, obviously incompetent, 'muppets' were promoted to positions of power in the Post Office. Can only assume this was no accident, these were 'useful' idiots that were set up to take the blame and shield the real corruption from view (i.e. those benefitting from the splitting up of the post office so they could sell off the profitable part, Royal Mail' to their mates at a knock down price. One thing that is becoming clear throughout the inquiry is the danger to that sell-off that the Horizon issue posed, and the need to throw SPMs under the bus to hide the possible liabilities that the newly created 'private' company might be exposed to. This muppet is just another scapegoat for the real corruption to hide behind.

[@brianlopez8855]

The NFSP was a hopeless Management Stooge of an organisation. Mr T was not in a position to help the PMs who considered themselves as self employed "partners" and thus a "cut above" the PO workers represented by the CWU. Its a clear example of the need to join a proper Trades Union like CWU.

[@JohnReesPhotography]

@@ParanormalUKNetwork just looked it. Spot on there, definitely a good description of Mr. T.

[@RobertHoward-d8g]

Why behave in the way that he did / does? It's simple. Arrogance. Pure arrogance. The NFSP were instrumental and almost as culpable in his attitude by keeping him in his position for so long that he was able to perpetuate the suffering of those who turned to the federation for help. An inquiry now needs to take place into said federation as to their part in this abhorrent shambles.

[@ericrice8755]

not yet another Inquiry" especially with this troll. I cant spend another day listening to him

[@RobertHoward-d8g]

@@ericrice8755 Then don't. Otherwise it'll all be swept under the carpet, forgotten about, and they go on their own sweet way and others will suffer the consequences. Still... At least YOU won't be forced to watch and listen to it all, will you.

[@brianlopez8855]

Thompson worked for the PO. The NFSP was a worthless management stooge body NOT a Trades Union, that the PMs should never have joined if they had thought about it more

[@oiooi6460]

Words are easy. They should return all membership fees to every Subpostmaster and mistress for the time Mr Thomson was in charge. Either that or they should donate the money to the Justice for SPM alliance. Im sure it wont make much of a dent in the millions that Vennells was paying for his unquestioning loyalty and devotion.

[@phil4499]

Fully endorse your comments.

[@brianlopez8855]

The PMs were not charged membership fees, the PO paid them, a warning to all true Trades Unionists that it was a worthless body.

[@judithpride1690]

I watched George Thompson's evidence at the live broadcast and could not believe what I went on. Julian Blake and Sir Wyn continually interrupted GT's stream of consciousness to get him to answer a simple yes or no question. GT showed no signs of taking notice of anyone.. it was all about him. I dread to think how those SPMs and their families felt seeing this as I'm not affected in the case at all (I don't know anyone that is) and yet I was ready to weep at the disgrace of it.

[@taptaptapuk]

It is an amazing watch .

[@rodmcintosh3149]

Vulgar person Thompson

[@robinsleeman]

Yes he did go on and on and on. I guess he was immunized as a child with a gramophone needle.

[@glenwooded8523]

I think the NFSP should sue George Thomson for failure to do his duty as General Secretary for Sub Postmasters. That would go to help redress the injustice the Sub postmasters suffered at the hands of the Post Office. This character may not get anything from any police investigation. Also the NFSP and CWU could also initiate legal action against the PO for their lack of duty of care for their Sub Postmasters. This could done in conjunction with Sir Alan Bates if he takes out any court action against the PO and individuals found to be complicit in this injustice

[@brianlopez8855]

Thomson did his job. He represented his employers - the PO. The NFSP was only ever an arm of the PO.

[@ClaireGrady-s9g]

That vile man should have been ejected from the inquiry. It does at least give a clear indication of the underbelly of the Post Office.

[@adriandcruz188]

Everyone brought in has been an evil and inhuman person.... every single one has been uncooperative and insensitive to so many whose lives have been ruined, I wonder if anyone will be jailed

[@chriswhitcomb8675]

Apart from the two Second Sight lads.

[@taptaptapuk]

Few exceptions

[@taptaptapuk]

Few exceptions

[@taptaptapuk]

And Sir Alan .

[@adriandcruz188]

@@chriswhitcomb8675 they are on the side of postmasters... they are part of the heroes pack

[@JohnSmith-qq6qy]

The NFSP is another failure. The list grows.

[@fireskycam9889]

He’d be as despised as Paula Vennells right now

[@patriciafagan56]

I’m afraid even more hated, as despicable as she is, she acknowledges that there were issues with horizon( pity she didn’t do this at the time, and I don’t believe her when she didn’t know so back then) he is still adamantly denying it now when it known and accepted. In fact the stock sentences he was quoting was lifted straight from the PO propaganda of the time.

[@Pmrace1960]

@@patriciafagan56 but he kept saying there was nothing wrong with horizon but when sir wyn told him both fijitsu and PO have said there were major problems with horizon asked him does he agree with that....the guy said yes...so he just condradicted himself

[@SkinnyCow.]

Ah yes, the old "it was a rogue employee who's no longer with the organization so you can trust us again". Yeah right. The NFSP should be shut down.

[@johnenglish929]

The NFSP under Thomson was just another department of POL.

[@taptaptapuk]

Yes I have known that to happen to another global brand recently .

[@taptaptapuk]

Exactly

[@dizwell]

I agree. The evidence was that all their funding until 2028 or so, to the tune of about 2.5 million a year, comes directly from Post Office Limited. It's difficult to see how they could independently represent the interests of their members _against_ the interests of their chief source of funds. Since they have no real independence, their continued existence would seem to be superfluous to requirements!

[@brianlopez8855]

The NFSP was only ever a PO stooge regardless of who was in charge, thats how it was set up in the C19th. Its a trade association, a business association but NOT a trades union. It was a chocolate fireguard at best for the SPMs

[@mandeepsingh-tp6kd]

Apology, only because they’re losing members and probably a subject of ridicule. 😮

[@petersullivan2837]

Thompson was only concerned with losing his huge Pay days from post office, he never for one moment was concerned for his members

[@jeangenie5807]

Not sure you are accurate. As far as I am aware, unless it's changed since I was in the Post Office, Royal Mail, Parcelforce etc., the NFSP is not paid in any way shape or form by the Post Office. It is a business Federation of established Spmrs and therefore the membership pays the salaries of the Federation staff, most of whom usually ran their own Post Office branches.

[@brianlopez8855]

The PMs were never HIS members, they had been gulled by the PO into thinking the NF would act for them, when it didnt, it was NOT a Trades Union.

[@martinspencer9820]

Quite the right thing to do, he showed himself to be not in a position to care for his members and their clear needs and support the post office - very bad. Glad to see that the current NFSP does not share his views and distanced themselves from his actions/attitude

[@taptaptapuk]

Indeed

[@johntomlinson6849]

Took them long enough to do it. Now their warcry is "unity"!

[@brianlopez8855]

Its still ONLY a trade body for "contractor partners" with the PO not a TU

[@johntomlinson6849]

@@brianlopez8855 The BBC says different.

[@brianlopez8855]

@@johntomlinson6849 Thanks but I prefer reality rather than the BBC interpretation

[@stuartjames222]

It's not too late to have him arrested.... he's an arrogant deceitful person who needs to be brought to account

[@taptaptapuk]

Indeed

[@geoffreykeane4072]

He is an arrogant arsehole, but what law did he break?

[@doughill1945]

I despise the man but I am not sure you can prosecute the man for being blinkered and hopeless in his job at helping postmasters (in distress) . If he was on the take that would be another matter.

[@Ralphs-House]

@@doughill1945 He certainly took the money for a job he failed to do

[@ericrice8755]

@@doughill1945 the organisation he led was definitely "on the take" over many years

[@kireland8]

His body language is saying, sorry you suckers, I'm not going to jail or ever really say I'm sorry.

[@mygoogle1482]

Thrown under the bus, no more than he deserved not due to his testimony but the agony he presided over and perpetuated by his obvious attitude.

[@valeriecherylirving4048]

I did watch most of it .. he clearly stated that he ignored the legals advice “ to say sorry “ and he was clearly of the opinion very similar to vennals that Horizon was “Robust” ( regardless of the evidence) ..! …however vennals was corrupt and covering up the huge contracts that were given to Fujitsu via the government.. as opposed to Thompson who was a useful idiot and believed he was getting brownie points ! BUT as has been exposed HE will carry the can for the BS he followed via the senior hierarchy! Bc he hadn’t the common sense to understand that he was merely a pawn in this dreadful crime against the sub postmasters!

[@gaylekowalchuk506]

You are the only person I have found who has spoken about the NFSP letter. Thank you

[@taptaptapuk]

Yes it's Been buried , by mainstream media . As it's not a story .

[@brianlopez8855]

The level of ignorance about Trades Unions these days is scary. The NF was only ever a Trade Association pet of the PO. The SPMs should never have trusted it all nor joined it all. They were under the delusion that they were business partners with the PO a cut above the CWU member postal workers.

[@ericrice8755]

@@brianlopez8855 as the twit keeps on reiterating SPMs were self employed and not employees of Post Office. Members probably didn't understand the difference when they signed for membership, nor were they aware of signing an illegal contract ie: pay up no matter whose error.

[@soapytowel1565]

After watching Thomson’s testimony I think NFSP must change their acronym to POPR (post office public relations). He was a Vennels/POL glove puppet & I think the “membership” will drop like lead balloon after this debacle

[@brianlopez8855]

The penny might finally drop for the "partners" that they have been duped by the PO. It was never a TU.

[@michaelkennedy8766]

I wonder if the police will look at this jokers bank deposits around the time of all this?

[@mickythegooner4302]

I hope so

[@margaretfitzgerald1489]

I’m sure they will

[@adrianravilious4259]

He needs to apologise himself Fat chance!

[@rodmcintosh3149]

He probably cannot spell “apology”

[@waynelewis6866]

Obese chance!

[@thisiszaphod]

Absolute rubbish, and an unacceptable and hollow apology. Who are their PR consultants? POL? As General Secretary, Thomson could not have acted alone and as a Dictator. What of those around him? If they did not share similar views to he, where were they? Where was their voice? Where was their support for members? The answer is that they, as well as Thomson, had none. POL held their strings, from finance to inaction against Horizon, and beyond. Shameful, cowardly response from NFSP - which poses more questions about their morality.

[@srp01983]

Didn’t you watch the Inquiry at all? Did you miss the bit where one of the core participants, representing the NFSP, asked questions which exposed Thompson as being in league with senior PO execs? The statement by the NFSP is to be welcomed - their management team have moved on and they are no longer governed by an arrogant, belligerent bully who acted like a dictator. It is wrong to assume that the NFSP has not changed just because the Post Office haven’t.

[@thisiszaphod]

@@srp01983 - I have avidly watched and followed the inquiry via their own live feed, from the off - well before the TV drama. I refer you to Branch Secretary for the CWU Postmasters' Branch, Mark Baker, and his evidence to the initial Parliamentary Committee inquiry, from which I quote. You may trouble yourself to read the entire submission from which the following comes, then come back to us. 'My election to the EC was not well received by my fellow Executive Officers (EO’s) and the then General Secretary Colin Baker CBE was particularly hostile towards me. I survived several attempts to oust me from my position on the EC because of the difficult questions I was asking etc. I was labelled a subversive by my detractors. It became clear to me that I had disturbed a cosy gentlemen's club. Things got particularly difficult when the issue of Horizon system failures started to be brought to the attention of the EC. I represented many members who were put through the Post Office disciplinary system for accounting shortfalls. I did my best to defend those members and I was quite successful in preventing summary terminations because I was demanding evidence that could not be produced. I discussed my case work with the fellow EO’s but they did not seem to go into the same level of detail as I did. Their attitude was that this was clearly theft by either the Postmaster a members of the Postmasters family or staff. They seemed to put up a token defence of the member but in reality just “held their hand” through the disciplinary process with the inevitable consequence that the member was ushered out of the business. Members would ask the EC for legal representation to be supplied and paid for by the NFSP funds. But all requests were turned down by the EC and the General Secretary.' 'The current CEO Calum Greenhow has inherited the legacy left to him by George Thomson but he has done nothing to right the wrongs carried out by those who went before him. He has not even issued a public apology for the way in which people have been treated during the life of this scandal. At least the Post Office has gone as far as apologising.' This hearing was held during March 2020. It has taken the NFSP 4 years and 3 months from here to now, to 'apologise'. Why so long?

[@thisiszaphod]

Please read the whole of Mark Baker's evidence to the Parliamentary inquiry of March 2020, predating the Public Inquiry of course, which includes the following direct quotes. 'My election to the EC was not well received by my fellow Executive Officers (EO’s) and the then General Secretary Colin Baker CBE was particularly hostile towards me. I survived several attempts to oust me from my position on the EC because of the difficult questions I was asking etc. I was labelled a subversive by my detractors. It became clear to me that I had disturbed a cosy gentlemen's club. Things got particularly difficult when the issue of Horizon system failures started to be brought to the attention of the EC. I represented many members who were put through the Post Office disciplinary system for accounting shortfalls. I did my best to defend those members and I was quite successful in preventing summary terminations because I was demanding evidence that could not be produced. I discussed my case work with the fellow EO’s but they did not seem to go into the same level of detail as I did. Their attitude was that this was clearly theft by either the Postmaster a members of the Postmasters family or staff. They seemed to put up a token defence of the member but in reality just “held their hand” through the disciplinary process with the inevitable consequence that the member was ushered out of the business. Members would ask the EC for legal representation to be supplied and paid for by the NFSP funds. But all requests were turned down by the EC and the General Secretary.' 'The current CEO Calum Greenhow has inherited the legacy left to him by George Thomson but he has done nothing to right the wrongs carried out by those who went before him. He has not even issued a public apology for the way in which people have been treated during the life of this scandal. At least the Post Office has gone as far as apologising.' It has taken the NFSP an ASTONISHING four years and three months to apologise after POL did. What a coincidence that this is just a couple of days after Thomson's evidence to the Inquiry!

[@keithwatkins7908]

Thanks for the update. George looked like a Scottish version of Ray Winstone the actor. He was on first name terms with Post Office executives, who knew he would support them and Horizon, and he still does to this day it seems.

[@brianlopez8855]

The NF was and is owned by the PO only.

[@BillyGWMorgan]

Check his Bank accounts 2007-2019 ....

[@taptaptapuk]

Good point ...plump

[@AVMamfortas]

NOT that they will refund the years of Union Membership fees by and to ALL subpostmasters

[@brianlopez8855]

The PMs didnt pay fees, the PO paid them. Clearly a worthless body as a TU.

[@michaelhearn3052]

@@brianlopez8855 It was never a union, but an association.

[@martineccles9477]

He's a bloody disgrace and should be prosecuted along with the other idiots who failed in their duty to the postmasters and postmistresses!!

[@taptaptapuk]

Indeed

[@robertwright7937]

"It was him, not us."

[@taptaptapuk]

Yep

[@MYCROFTonX]

There is a phrase for this sort of thing... ahse-covering. The febrile atmosphere of today means that the NFSP is in another fight for it's life. It literally HAS to say this to avoid annihilation. Horizon is in use today, the same intrinsic program, the ONLY difference is tha Fujitsu has stopped employing fools on the 6th Floor to mess with it and they have a virtual holding program so that they can work on the corrections over days not hours as they did originally.

[@taptaptapuk]

Yep sadly cash will be a thing of the past sooner than we think , this goes to aid the whole process ,

[@robinsleeman]

I watched every minute of his evidence and I formed the opinion that job security and money was at the root of his ambitions.

[@taptaptapuk]

Good point

[@stephengillott9435]

Listening to George Thompson, i thought he worked for the Post Office and didn't realise he was a union rep.

[@rog2224]

"Trade Federation! rep - not the same as a union.

[@brianlopez8855]

He was NOT a Union Rep it was not a TU, it was a worthless Trade Association wholly funded by the PO, a massive PO con trick. A lesson for ALL workers to join a proper TUC affiliated union only.

[@brianlopez8855]

@@rog2224 Amen. Most folk do NOT understand the difference. I expect most SPMs thought themselves as business "partners" and a cut above the PO "workers" who were members of the effective CWU a TUC affiliated proper self funded Trades Union. This ignorance shows how far the TU movement has sunk since the Glory Days of old.

[@sarahwinfield3989]

I had to look up the word "apology" as it is so seldom used when it comes to the government. I watched the whole of this mans evidence and I honestly thought he was working against the enquiry. Your apology was elegant and sincere. It put back my faith in human beings. Well done

[@hariowen3840]

Was he employed as a representative to defend the interests of the sub postmasters? - or as a representative to protect the interest of the Post Office???

[@margaretfitzgerald1489]

The latter by the sounds of it

[@brianlopez8855]

Amen. He worked for the PO's Trade Association the NF a management stooge. The NF is NO friend of the SPMs. Folk need to educate themselves about proper Trades Unions, such levels of ignorance expressed in these posts is depressing.

[@hariowen3840]

@@brianlopez8855 Correct! - folk need to educate themselves about proper Trades Unions and what the NFSP's role regarding what proper representation of sub-postmasters should have entailed, such levels of ignorance expressed in these posts is indeed depressing. The NFSP was originally a trade union. In 2013 the Post Office stated that they did not recognise the NFSP for collective bargaining purposes. The Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that sub-postmasters were not employees of Post Office Ltd, but were engaged under a contract for services, the Trades Union Certification Officer wrote to the NFSP to say that he believed the organisation did not meet the legal requirements to continue to be recognised as a trade union. Following this ruling the NFSP has not charged a membership fee to sub-postmasters. The NFSP instead received funding from Post Office Ltd. However, the NFSP stated its funding allows it to provide practical support to members and does not prevent it from challenging or criticising the Post Office.

[@williambyron564]

His motivation is quite simple to understand. He wants to keep his overly generous pension. He is in denial. He was Venell's lap dog. What was his remuneration as General Secretary?

[@brianlopez8855]

He did his job for the PO

[@danielg8001]

Thank you for that update. I seems to me that Thompson should be charged with collusion to cover up a miscarriage of justice! His position on the issues still to this day defies logic. There has to be more to the story. It was like listening to a broken record. He is stuck in his groove and won’t budge out of it. Also interesting was his revelation of the legal advice he received regarding his appearance behaviour and his bold assertion that he was ignoring it! Mouth almighty in action.

[@taxpayer1040]

I listened to his evidence and found it hard to believe. Am I alone in thinking that there are a number of reputations at stake in this enquiry in connection with politicians (family and aides) along with others. I have found the arrogance of certain legal advisers and impatience of office holders hard to reconcile with the concern of reputation and brand. This has been paticularly do with the declared hesitation to recuse the judge and heavy handed prosecutions.

[@mrstanhope1516]

Interesting update. They are throwing him under the bus and making him a scapegoat. Truth is the rest of the union we just as ignorant and belligerent as him.

[@robertframpton7865]

i dont think making a scapegoat of someone like this needs to be on anyones agenda. His blinkered, horrifically callous and bullying demenour/ testimony mean theres no need. A purveyor of a deeply perverse mindset who shows clear signs of clinical psycopathy. I think the Chairs decision to give him the chance to speak at the end on his own was a last minute judgement call, knowing full well he might just tighten the noose around his own neck a few further notches.

[@brianlopez8855]

The NF was NOT and is NOT a TU. Its an arm of the employer only which Thomson admitted he worked for, the PO, not the SPMs.

[@letmeinwillu]

I suggest that a robust and thorough investigation take place into the relationship between this individual and Post Office Ltd and senior management.

[@taptaptapuk]

Good idea

[@chrisfirth4688]

George Thomson was typical of his type of the times nothing but a bully and arrogance. He will say anything to protect his backside never mind if it was true or otherwise. I hope that he is dealt with appropriately. No room for verbal bully's.

[@taptaptapuk]

Indeed

[@robbiecox]

Thomson was Gen Sec for 11 years and no one else in the union new what he was like? A disgraceful apology.

[@taptaptapuk]

Indeed

[@Sj4-h8l]

Appalling man: so blinkered despite all the proof ! Ultimately needs to be taken to account. Probably the first reality check towards his dreadful behaviour he has ever had in his life !

[@brianlopez8855]

He did his job as an employee of the PO. He was never paid to represent the PMs.

[@Sj4-h8l]

@@brianlopez8855The bottom line surely is for him to be honest about the wretched horizon system and not act in the mode of a ‘flat earth’ conspiracy theorist. We have had enough ducking and diving from previous witnesses without this appalling input from him!

[@brianlopez8855]

@@Sj4-h8l very true

[@michaelmoxon5488]

Absolutely shocking, I would urge the powers that be to take a further look into his role in this scandal.

[@colinpyke4199]

❤Sir Wynn's face at the second morning break says it all.

[@ogstopper]

The NFSP was in bed with the PO, to the tune of millions. They are now trying to be heroes by distancing themselves from Tubby McLard.

[@taptaptapuk]

Good point

[@esotericist]

dispicable scot

[@theangryscotsman5174]

I've got 2nd hand embarrassment for being Scottish because of this arrogant condescending dipstick. I apologise on behalf of our country. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@jeremymurray-wakefield8011]

That’s great to hear! - thanks for posting.

[@markjohnston7869]

I do hope now that the Union will refund all subs paid by members during this toss pots tenure will be made without and delay.

[@taptaptapuk]

Time will tell

[@MYCROFTonX]

Every branch of the PO and every SPMR is today using Horizon, the only add-on is the inclusion of a virtual model in the program so that the BEDs can be corrected without causing MORE trouble elsewhere in the system. If there had been 'cheap memory' facilities in 2004 as there are today then a virtual model would have been used as a mean to safeguard against errors. This is EXACTLY what our banks do, they have a terrible 'legacy system' that is WORSE than Horizon (because it's older) and all our Banks use a virtual model to hive off any problems and deal with them fully and correctly. At the present time 30% of all banking transactions are hived off in this manner as it would otherwise collapse.

[@taptaptapuk]

Interesting thanks

[@jeremymurray-wakefield8011]

“Age” has nothing to do with it. It was always possible for Horizon to have been protected against such errors with a better fail safe design than it had, and better automated testing to validate the system. Nonetheless, this is a tale of many mistakes across the business and beyond, intersecting to form the perfect conditions for a scandal to brew.

[@MYCROFTonX]

@@jeremymurray-wakefield8011 'Age' is very significant as far as running a virtual system in parallel with the larger model. To have a virtual model of Horizon (one with no SPMR input) that takes the errors off and runs with them for a day or so is REALLY intense in hardware use, that hardware being memory banks. The growth of these memory banks and the crash in the cost of them (1% of what they were in 2004) is really significant. The Banks had lots of money, POL was on it's uppers financially as the Inquiry has said repeatedly. No system is ever perfect and it has errors still, but the virtual model stops the SPMRs losing out. The main mistake remains as it always was, the low grade of the operatives on the 6th floor in the Fujitsu Building in Bracknell, all of who created 99.9% of the problems that lead to jailing innocent SPMRs. Thomson tried to protect the franchisees from losing all they had in the event that POL collapsed or was reset by the single shareholder.

[@ftumschk]

@@jeremymurray-wakefield8011 Indeed, there are some legacy systems (banking ones included) that have been in place since before Horizon, and are perfectly reliable to this day.

[@owstonlad3859]

The motivation was quite clear, he set off to dictate matters with blustering time wasting tactics, Paula will be proud of the Bully.

[@joydivider42]

IT NEEDS CLOSING DOWN! Anyone that paid money or was a member should be taking legal action to ensure this happens

[@theRfamily048]

When you are in business you receive your income from your customers. As such you ensure your customers are treated like they are worth their weight in gold. You give your customers complete customer satisfaction and defend them at all costs, as if you do not, they will simply go elsewhere. The problem with organisations/trade associations and regulators is that they receive the majority of their income not from their customers but from the businesses that provide products/services to those customers. As such in order for the organisations/trade associations and regulators to survive, the customer is treated with contempt, if that customer puts the business in danger. This has been the case with OFWAT, OFGEM, OFCOM etc. Think about it?

[@taptaptapuk]

Good point

[@MartynHarris-gb1gg]

He perfectly projected what took place holistically whilst he was in a position of trust. Shambolic impropriety to protect the PO at the expense of the victimes. His aggressive defence and bullying stature is compelling evidence that when in a position of trust, he failed to represent the truth, failed to act in the best interests of the victimes. I have just learned that these witnesses have immunity from prosecution, that by telling the truth at this enquiry, the truth cannot be used against them.

[@taptaptapuk]

Are you sure , not heard that .quite often they are read a statement that it is possible for them to incriminate themselves by making a statement in the inquiry .

[@MartynHarris-gb1gg]

@@taptaptapuk there is lot of underhand issues with this enquiry. You are aware that the enquiry has no powers to prosecute. That, the whole case has been aired in public undermines the very principles of a fair a just prosecution, as they have been already judged by the public, and finding 12 jurors who have no pre knowledge of, or familiar with the case will be like finding hens teeth. The indemnity is thought to be a falsehood, so sorry for that, but the exposure almost provides indemnity.

[@taptaptapuk]

​@@MartynHarris-gb1gg actually yes of course you are correct in that .

[@BarbaraAlldred-hc6et]

It shows the culture of the Post office, and how they bought any leader of the NFSP in those dsys. It is the same all through the witness statements of the board members who had grown up in the Post office, they were indoctrinated into thinking that only the brand mattered. Anyone who questioned this was the enemy and halftone discredited at any cost.

[@taptaptapuk]

That's like so many companies

[@JeanRinger]

Oh he has been found out what a disgrace Thomson is very arrogant thought he was been clever but just made a complete Idiot of himself He was not there for the post masters He was in the pockets of the Post office making sure he still gets his bonuses and pensions He is a disgrace

[@janetrowe6911]

Thomson’s testimony was a breath of fresh air, a true representation of the PO attitudes and actions taken. He remembered every arrogant self serving interchange. Thanks for the clarity.

[@brianlopez8855]

He worked for the NF which worked for the PO, what's not to understand. He NEVER represented the SPMs, it was never a trades union.

[@janetrowe6911]

Yes indeed but there doesn’t appear to be a difference. PO or NF one and the same.

[@johnthompson1453]

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely!

[@fireskycam9889]

I watched his testimony and it seemed like he was helping to throw people under the bus

[@colinpyke4199]

He seems to believe that he deserves all the credit for the millions of transactions that didn't go wrong and none for what did.

[@rosssimpson6268]

Thompson's attitude reminds me very much of the approach so many unions - and espesially the overall 'Feration of Labe' (spelling deliberate to duplicate their own way of stating their description) in my home country (NZ) back in the 60s. I used to have interesting conversations, normally cut short by peacemaker Mum, with my Dad about what they were trying to achieve at the time where the Govt was a somewhat to the right of centre one and had been in power for a long time. We happened to be in the electorate of the leader of the Labour Party, who became the PM (and had also been the Mayor of Mum's home town) in 1974 but died within a few months of taking office - from the effects of his pathalogical obesety..

[@taptaptapuk]

Interesting

[@Incywincey]

Unions across the country are full of officials too close to their employer. Union officers in the same office as the CEO,s are not there by accident! (Not saying this was the case with him.) He appears to be a bully, he’s a disgrace. Good luck to all post office staff who have been failed by people like him!👍

[@taptaptapuk]

Yes

[@deanb61]

How anyone pays union fees after watching that I have no idea.

[@liduinewellink8486]

There must be something wrong with him. His behaviour is not normal.

[@jacpat5372]

A bully plain and simple....with the little man syndrome.

[@robertframpton7865]

Possibly early onset dementia, combined with a large dose of borderline personality disorder..?

[@josephinedewar4469]

Agreed!

[@rogermoore5761]

I watched George on Friday and realised why Hadrian built his wall.

[@josephinedewar4469]

Not all Scots are Thompson clones!!

[@PeterS-r4o]

I got really angry and frustrated by Thomson initially - but then I realised he was doing the Inquiry a favour. Others from the PO side (and he was on their side) have tried to hide or disguise the attitude they took towards the sub postmasters. Vennels for example tried to downplay comments she made in emails. The witless Thomson put it all on full display. Thanks to him the Inquiry saw first hand just how appalling that attitude was.

[@brianlopez8855]

Thomson was truthful. He admitted that he worked for a trade body for the SPMs looking after the PO's interests as his employer. The SPMs were duped by the POS into joining it.

[@davidknapper]

Why was Thomson never challenged by NFSP in his behavior and bullying ? Thompson sums up the whole attitude of the NFSP and the Post Office management. The postmaster/mistress never stood a chance. Take his pension from him or other action NFSP if you really meant your apology. Its about time prosecutions were served to the PO management team and whoever else has deliberately misled or lied.

[@brianlopez8855]

The NF worked for and works for its masters the PO it does not act for the SPMs its an association not a union never was. The SPMs were duped.

[@ericrice8755]

erm - they might have voted at the AGMs if nothing else

[@janetstuart8977]

He was a Union man with a closed mind. Federations are governed by different rules. He and the Federation were paid and funded by thd Post Office therefore his first allegiance was to them not the members. The members may have paid subs but it could not match the millions donated by the Post Office.

[@brianlopez8855]

Amen: The third comment only, that shows you understand the difference between a worthless trade association and a TU. Most folk do not have a clue and mouth off accordingly. It does nothing for the TU movement.

[@vlctor1]

An absolute bully and bigot with no consideration or compassion, I have worked with people like this, they will do and say anything to keep on the right side of their superiors. His defence was the system was nearly all right. What an idiot, total disgrace. He was a union leader - I'd have put money on that.

[@brianlopez8855]

He was NOT a union leader he worked for the NF a trade association. His loyalty was only ever to his paymasters the PO, never to the SPMs.

[@vlctor1]

@@brianlopez8855 Fair point - corporate businesses are littered with people like this.

[@TheGeezerMan]

I'm a couple of days behind but I watched this guy today. An absolute disgrace, rude and arrogant to say the least. A horrible person to the core. He seemed to have his own agenda and was going to say it no matter what. There is a bigger question though and that is what about all the others that allowed him to carry on the way he did whilst in the NFSP? He and no doubt others allowed his "union" to be used as a lackey for the Post Office.

[@taptaptapuk]

Yep .

[@waynelewis6866]

As soon as he opened his mouth, I thought What a sCUNThorpe!

[@taptaptapuk]

Industrial town from what I recall

[@malcolmsmart2994]

This George Thomson was in the pockets of the PLO realise he’s not with them now but should have some sort of retribution for his attitude and charged .

[@taptaptapuk]

Indeed

[@DennisHughes-h8b]

The NFSP Committee knew full well about the idiot and his thoughts. They have a damn cheek to apologise now after knowing how inadequate he was and biased he was towards the PO. They have been just as guilty of ruing the SMPO lives and just like all those who are guilty of it, they all are coming out with their apologies to cover their arses. This is my opinion. Where were the Union Board while all this fraud was going on. Too busy washing their hands?

[@taptaptapuk]

Good point

[@LawrenceWilliams-u6q]

It appears clear that many - truthfully, most - senior officials of POL, Fujitsu and NFSP are totally bereft of basic honesty, integrity and truthfulness. Whatever happened to "Thou shalt not bear false witness"?

[@taptaptapuk]

Very true

[@Selena-ff5er]

That’s probably the way he got the job with the NFSP talk then to Death but someone else should have also been monitoring him over all those years.

[@taptaptapuk]

Good point

[@TheStratpicker]

I watched this opinionated maverick and obstacle, rather than facilitator, for SPMs with a grievance, with disbelief. The proven guilt of others has no more bearing on this inquiry than does the number of correct transactions carried out by the Horizon computer system. I wish someone had reminded him that they were there to discuss cases in which the system had thrown up erroneous balances, and the chain of events, some of which appear to involve real criminality, that resulted in desperation to the point of suicide, bankruptcy and wrongful convictions.

[@stevetrotter6584]

He probably got a "bung" from POL. At least enough to buy that ice hockey ref's shirt.

[@taptaptapuk]

Could be

[@victorstevens2299]

Recall the fight for women at Dagenham car plant and how the Male union rep behaved.. Not much has changed

[@taptaptapuk]

Good point .

[@cmdrwhiskeygalore3044]

When the money being donated to a Union comes from the business and not the workers that is a RED ALERT. It should actually be a conflict of interest and it should also be illegal.

[@brianlopez8855]

Only the 4th comment on here to show the correct TA and TU understanding. Amen. The level of ignorance is stunning.

[@Buurtspoor]

As a retired s/w developer I am upset by the way word-salad is used to defend the Horizon system. Going on about the lack of systemic errors and a "robust" system is b/s. Some errors may only occur under certain conditions, maybe obscure unforseen situations. The consequences can be severe even though other users may never have a problem with that system. This calamity also demonstrates how "the little people" are squashed by the power and deep pockets of large (governmental) organisations.

[@rogerbarton1790]

Try to see the film "Made in Dagenham". The local union rep. was completely on the side of his members, but his two bosses in the union were, as mentioned in this video "too close to management".

[@aw6936]

I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I watched every minute of this testimony, and for the second time - the previous time also with a trade unionist witness - at a crucial moment in the questioning, just as we were about to hear the answer, the screen went blank - well, not blank, but with the message "Broadcast Suspended". Not "live stream interrupted" or anything like that: but broadcast "Suspended". If it was interrupted for technical reasons, the word "suspended" seems peculiarly inappropriate. Am I getting paranoid?

[@leonalynam7196]

His motivation is he went down a hole dug by post office/horizon executives and forgot how to dig himself out and decided the best thing was to bury himself in denial. As for the union a pathetic reflection of 11yrs of inaction towards their own

[@taptaptapuk]

Indeed

[@iantimpany5667]

As a retired trade unionist I'm glad this union has distanced itself from Thompson. Please also note that the union he was head of was an in-house operation deliberately distant from unions affiliated with the TUC.

[@brianlopez8855]

The 5th comment in here only, that shows the true understanding of how worthless the NF was. Folks do NOT understand TUs and do not value them properly, and sadly the SPMs were among them

[@phil4499]

NFSP should be refunding all members subscription payments during this person's time as purporting to represent members interests - absolutely shocking performance from him. 😮

[@brianlopez8855]

The PO paid the subs entirely as it was their Trade Ass. not a TU.

[@andyc3088]

If you attack Horizon he thinks it's a personnel attack on him. 'Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely'.

[@taptaptapuk]

👍

[@colinlambert882]

At one point when GT was on his continuous stream of consciousness praising Horizon and how reliable it was for most PO agents, Sir Wyn finally intervened and reminded GT that both Fujitsu and the PO had admitted to the Inquiry that Horizon was faulty, with “bugs, errors and defects”, tastefully renamed by Paula‘s husband as “exceptions or anomalies“.

[@glentyan2505]

All of us north of the border were appalled like everyone listening to this so called evidence, sometimes words come hard to find for moments like this and this is one of them.

[@petertaysum8947]

I remember an old saying, the finest example of spoken English is to be found just outside of Nairn.