What you have in common with Post Office victims | James O'Brien - The Whole Show

This is a catch-up version of James O'Brien's live, daily show on LBC Radio from the 9th of January 2024.
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[@Mounhas]

Now we need TV dramas on the PPE scandals & the corruption of this government.

[@Faiythe]

It's like boiling a frog, it's hard to keep track of when articles are drip fed out over many years bit the scale and magnitude of the scandal becomes unmistakable when it's all put together and shown in one go.

[@mcz6239]

The Post Office story became so complicated that people lost interest. The drama simplified it and made it understandable to the public.

[@SuperStella1111]

I don't think so. I think there's a lot of malice in the way our government relates to us. I think things like austerity, and benefit cuts to the disabled, and cruelty to refugees is all the same kind of contempt for the poor and the dignity of others - and it was always going to eventually lead to a more "sympathetic" group being on the receiving end of this very deliberately malicious incompetence. But my main point is this: this is a cruel country, full of cruel and reactionary people, who allow this sort of thing to happen and we're like frogs in boiling water. One day it's a "benefit scrounger". The next day it's a respectable post mistress. It's the creep of sheer government malice. There is also a feeling of overwhelming helplessness in the face of this and other injustices. That's by design. The government wants every interaction with it to be degrading and cruel.

[@TheLucanicLord]

Are you talking the world beating great British public down?

[@clowncarqingdao]

@@TheLucanicLord No. However, the average reading age of the UK population (excluding those below school age) is that of a 9-year old. The Guardian newspaper has a reading age of 14 years and the Sun newspaper has a reading age of 8 years. Millions of people wouldn't be able to read most of the words in a newspaper article let alone organize it into a coherent story from the printed page. While I assume you are being sarcastic ;-) @mcz6239 is spot on!

[@darkforest4891]

I think it's more a lack of covereage. When something gets daily coverage for a period of weeks, you can tell. Everyone has something to say about it. News organisations get to say what is important, time and time again they let the public down.

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

The Best Voice at LBC...The UK is lucky to have you James.

[@anonomous8719]

Bully obrien - paid sponsor of the Labour Party.

[@chatham43]

....and Ian Dale too... whom I know you greatly admire...and rightly so!

[@lestrem11]

@@chatham43 Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

[@englishstark6100]

The Foul Voice of Sauron Evil O'brien Lieutenant of Barad Dur.

[@user-wq6sz7vt3w]

He a fool!

[@Author-dad-veteran]

Like many born in the 80’s, I didn’t have many new clothes, Christmas was a stress to my parents and luxuries were non existent. My parents struggled but we made it to adulthood. I think people now are choosing not to struggle, not to put themselves, their marriages and their kids through so much hardship. Can’t blame them.

[@OzzyBoganTech]

No justice for anyone on this planet unless it becomes a popular TV series.

[@wonderlocs7758]

There's been so many dramatisation of enslavement and it's after effects like tge 1981 Brixton race riots and sus laws but still black people have got no justice, no representation, no compensation, no justice! Your theory is only correct if its people of NO colour that are the victims

[@lestrem11]

Why did a Labour mp support the nomination of Vennells for her CBE. Why did Davey receive £275,000 off the firm that prosecuted the post office workers?

[@chatham43]

...and why did Sir Keir turn a blind eye...questions need to be answered...!

[@dimitriosnikolaou5174]

One of the reasons we are all so gripped by it all is that we all feel that there is a common theme between the attitude of the executives at post office, the board, the justice system, the political system etc, as shown in the TV program, and what happens in other sectors. Loyalty to the firm and the board, ignorance, arrogance and ruthlessness. So we all feel affected, or at risk, but most of us not to this degree as the poor postmasters. The victory of Mr Bates and the postmasters is very inspiring and brings hope to all. There is a thirst for transparency and justice is all fields, not just the post office.

[@tones7mca]

The thing that springs to my mind, regarding the Post Office saga, is the travesty of corruption and inside trading that took place with the Tories privatised the Post Office. No one has been held accountable. I think regarding the apparent reignition of this story, it may be as simple as it being a slow news period and we know that editors hold stories to run in order to fill pages and column inches, when they need them. There also happens to be some continuing important international issues, that perhaps some interests would prefer people were not thinking about.

[@stevenhodgson4227]

I think the snobbery is mainly an "English thing". I have lived in 6 countries and have never really encountered it to the extent I did in England.

[@Dylanesque]

It's called 'British exceptionalism' Some believe they are more exceptional than others.

[@rayglenister9799]

I've had a similar experience. The class structure has ruined the UK except for the 2% that owns and controls it.

[@pamelaadam9207]

And Edinburgh

[@johndewhurst6609]

The top people in charge of the post office should be charged for the treatment of postmasters, despite knowing there were faults in system. Fujitsu should be taken to court for releasing software without true diligence on whether it was fit for purpose. They between them should be forced to pay adequate compensation to all victims. The scary thing this system is still being used in schools in Northern Ireland. What next ? Headteachers in court for stealing dinner money .

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Still engaged in.some post offices, according to reports......

[@adeptusmagi]

and Fujitsu need to be taken off of the DTI lists of government approved contractors If failier to produce a product fit for its use isn't enough Surely perjury and falsifying visitor logs and the suspected retaliation action against the sub postmasters union rep who discovered they had access to post offices branch accounts must be in my opinion enough to prove them to untrustworthy to be on the list

[@catherinethomas1276]

Absolutely

[@catherinethomas1276]

​@suzyqualcast6269 then post office people should close it down and refuse to work until its out and replaced by something that is water tight.

[@catherinethomas1276]

Thanks James ❤

[@trulymental7651]

I rarely get affected by drama but those poor Post Office employees got to me. I do wonder if other companies were affected by Horizon, I know they said in the ITV series they said it was rolled out across Europe too. There is a lot more investigating needs to be done. Justice needs to be done.

[@user-wq6sz7vt3w]

The media, LBC were very slow picking this up!

[@Avigdor1655]

Post Office is a private for profit organisation registered with Dun & Bradstreet, it changed its name to international distribution services. In 2011 the Royal mail was privatised, the former post masters can bring a private prosecution under the prosecution of offences act 1985 against the post office and Fujitsu. They can also sue the minister of post offices as their office is also registered with Dun & Bradstreet as a for profit corporation.

[@Hevlikn]

This is what I am thinking; in the public's mind, this is a failure of monopolistic privatisation, and in the client media and governments view a failure of public institution

[@dogkicker100]

no its not go back to google !

[@Avigdor1655]

@@dogkicker100 you should, during the companies Annual meeting on July 20, 2022 it was announced the holding company of both Royal Mail and GLS would change its name to international distribution services.

[@melvynpepperday1448]

When you actually see the distress that the post office caused to the sub postmasters in the 'drama', these are ordinary people, living their lives and working for their families, and those who took their own lives, or who have died before their innocence was proven, is distressing in the extreme, that the post office had cart Blanche to mark their homework and prosecute the postmasters is disgusting.

[@davidpopp1963]

The post office feels like big brother show, and I feel the government are driving by the media, and not following from the start due process.

[@Avigdor1655]

Salary of an MP 86,584, +around 7, 000 expenses + 5,000 per month for second homes. And they use underhand tactics or blatantly ignore court rulings and reduce the disabled benefits claiming we all need to tighten their belts, because of those decisions I and many others have been diagnosed with malnutrition because of those cuts.

[@catherinethomas1276]

I'm so sorry to hear. But this is now widespread .

[@pipins3616]

JOB is upset as the Government is sorting the Post office mess

[@J00Ls]

We're all at the mercy of anyone who has access to our data and personal information.

[@anonomous8719]

Get well soon James

[@fingersfinesilver]

Love the Partridgesque tangents! ("The News Agents would have a jingle immediately!") The first people to congratulate you on your 20th anniversary should be broadcasters Alan Partridge and Jonathan Pie!

[@marblackCanada]

Not enough housings, it drives up the cost of keeping a roof over your head and therefore less money for other things including children.

[@dh7314]

Facebook mums have exploded over the post office scandal

[@MarySheridan-hl8bi]

Not just facebook mums!!

[@SendyTheEndless]

It's the sheer Kafka-esueness of it. I'm thinking primarily of The Trial.

[@OzzyBoganTech]

Your lack of previous coverage of this subject should disgust everyone

[@allotmentuk1303]

The worst thing about listening to your programme is I am always drivingmy car and can not phone in but, I did enjoy the content so much so I am listening to it again on youtube and shout SMEAR KEIR!

[@stevecoppin6396]

any idea why ?

[@allotmentuk1303]

@@stevecoppin6396because I was interested in the subjects and due to differing volumes of sound due to travelling affecting reception certain sections could not be heard.

[@jonathanboam5409]

"Smear Keir" needs to become a regular segment.

[@chatham43]

...you mean Keir beer gate...forgotten all about that...tv drama potential..?

[@noidear7216]

Did someone mention Anna Friel?

[@maheenabiden9570]

Can’t help think the Horizon Scandal is a tragic metaphor for the decline of the UK as a country. 😢

[@user-fw2pp3wm2k]

Totally agree, there is a total sense of utter hopelessness among most now, 2 rules one for us 1 for them and the law only protects those with money including large corporations

[@peterdale7896]

Here is my news.....Some years ago my wife and I took a caravan holiday in North Yorkshire. We have only one child who has Cerebral Palsy. He is confined to a wheelchair and cannot talk....Think Stephen Hawkins. We visited a nice pub near Ampleforth College. Initially it was quiet, however the day we visited coincided with a special day at the college. During the early afternoon we were surrounded the families and children from the college. Each and every family looked at us with distane and bewilderment. It was a terrible experience and something I have never forgot, despite it being 30 years ago. What do they teach at this place???? Do tell James....

[@MetalSamantha]

I haven’t watched the drama, but I sympathise with the victims. I was accused of something by the DWP. The accusations were entirely without any foundation at all, and the so-called case against me was thrown out by tribunal. They said the case was so weak that it was “unworthy of consideration” and threw it out with me having to present evidence or bothering to listen to the DWP representative The “case” against me was a lie. Pure and simple. What this brings to light for me is they way that people in power casually throw around vacuous accusations which don’t make the slightest sense, won’t listen to reason and try to wreck people’s lives because it never even crosses their minds that they might be wrong I won I hope the subpostmasters all do, too I have a very very serious heart condition. I have mountains of paperwork to prove this. I’ve been in hospital multiple times. I was once thought to be inoperable, although one of the best heart surgeons alive did eventually find a way to operate. I can show you reans of evidence I get painfully out of breath if I stand too long it try to walk more than a few yards. I was confined to my bed for two years. Thr DWP claimed that during that time I was going to Manchester, going clubbing every night, and getting the 3am train back home. Aside from anything else, there was no 3am train to catch. The last train finished around 11pm I get chest pain every day even after my operation. At the time I was supposedly doing this, my heart was three times the size it should be. My aortic root was three times it should be. Doctors were “staggered” I was even alive Going clubbing every night and getting a non-existent train back home? I have routine and regular blood tests. I obtained evidence that there was nothing illegal on my system and no sign of alcohol abuse. The allegations were sheer, unadulterated nonsense Just like those against the subpostmasters

[@Avigdor1655]

Families were a lot closer you could have around 5 or more family members living in the same area so they were able to help each other out.

[@jonsevern]

Its very simple. ​Corruption has been seeping into all areas of our lives​ in the UK. People are getting angry.

[@wonderlocs7758]

Since when was corruption not a big part of all areas of the uk? Genuine question, the British empire changed name with that queen in the 50s, but it was only a name change, nothing else, Britain is built on corruption!

[@Ukhq3456]

We don’t care because we expect this now from the government we’ve seen so much shamelessness from the UK that we’re not surprised and I guess majority of us are thinking to leave the UK because of the things that we have witnessed over the last years

[@UFOhunter4711]

I know quite a few people with the same view with kids and the future. Also one of my cousins has a kid and now feels morally regretful due to the future climate

[@suzyqualcast6269]

So... You think ££'compensates' for illicitly taken freedom? Such recompense is a given where honest working folks have been demanded of WRONGLY, and if their lives were ruined, literally, by unjust, bent demands upon them care of an effin machine, but I've no idea how the maligned mayt feel bout this. Imprisonment is something else, and too often dished out in the 🇬🇧.

[@gerryh8367]

The Met....... the same lot who investigated Borifice ?????

[@petergaskin1811]

It was seen in a play on the telly. That's all that was needed. Shades of Play for today spring to mind. Cathy come home...

[@sama3033]

Peter Brook's black and white version of Lear with Paul Schofield in the lead still one of the greatest films ever made IMO. And almost no one has ever seen it. Very hard to find which is a tragedy.

[@johndewhurst6609]

At one time there was child benefit for every child then it was changed to child benefit for the second child. To increase the population genourous child benefit would help. Problem is if the Tories get back in they will stop child benefit, and tax people higher unless they have children.

[@MyFuengirola]

We havent had an opposition leader to speak up for the public for decades. That program became the mouthpiece for all the grievances and injustices that everybody ( except the 1%) in the country feelhas been done to them .We need a leader to put our interests firts .we are so tired of the corruption and greed.

[@paulstephenson853]

Is it libel to discus Andrew's guilt when there is photographic evidence of him with the girl whom he denies ever meeting and it is blatantly obvious that he was lying? Why he would be lying, innocent or guilty, could be the topic of such a phone in, right?

[@harrysynnott2379]

Being stamped upon.

[@robertovers1863]

everyone needs to watch the inquiry interview of Elaine Cottam day 81 which is unbelievable and David Posnett who has the memory of a goldfish

[@fitzbryden5642]

I am from the Commonwelth living this country for over 30years love every bits off living here the postoffice where all the Nastie things about this Country gone stright into the System that Rule ours lives this is why when i here people talk about Raceism you got live here to smell it

[@user-fw2pp3wm2k]

The fact they were stating a 300 year old law is beyond belief,

[@chriskiley1064]

Living in Canada I miss the live show due to the time difference, but many, many times I wish I could call in. The birthrate conversation is a problem here as well. I am almost 50 and only NOW am I in a position that I can even think about children or owning a home. I will get there someday but will be an old codger dropping my kids off at school.

[@harrydebastardeharris987]

Does a Corporate Post Office have more power than the Government or Law and Courts ?

[@AndyMyers]

Smear Keir is a keeper

[@SuperStevestan]

I like how James explains how eveything works for his listener - only 2 reasons why he might do this

[@tonyhall699]

"Double-down" is American, like "bleed out". In English we would say double, or double up.

[@1952teapot]

Congratulations from Vancouver Island B.C. on your 20th anniversary James!

[@powerline301]

I'm so sick of hearing about these putrid Rugby players, that have multiple children with their spouse & then cheat because they believe they will gt a free pass from the public. Rugby players who cheat on their wives are not special, unless they remain faithful.

[@elliotcarnall1150]

as a 32yr old man now i've always wanted children since i was young but just never worked out for me, with today's economy and way the world is going am at that point now of do i really want too bring a child into this world, coming from guy who since 10 years old knew only thing i wanted is too be a dad and father i don't think i can do it and ofcourse that has made my depression worse over the years.

[@MrDavidp180]

Price of stamps. Extortionate….Again this country not looking after the people that, rely & want to use that method…….🤬🤬🤬

[@markbullen5989]

Give the Ryanda money to the sub postmasters

[@chatham43]

.....and the money wasted on the lockdown too..!!!

[@user-fw2pp3wm2k]

Simple it’s because it’s the post office ( gov run) and our media is gov run so they won’t cover a story that’s detrimental to them

[@Dylanesque]

If I was just setting out in the world today, I wouldn't be planning to have children tomorrow. Although the world isn't an entirely bad place, it is becoming so as time marches on.

[@karenwright8025]

Question from an American who has not seen the ITV drama of the Post Office Scandal: Given what I know of the scandal and the lives lost and torn into shreds, any civilized human being would feel outraged, but do you think that the current post-pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, times Brits are living in has also had an impact on the way the country is reacting (which feels much more empathetic than sympathetic)? Do you think Brits would have reacted the same way to this story four-five years ago - as for example, in the middle of the Brexit referendum?

[@FreeFlyerUk]

Post Office/Government "Justice..., Guilty until proven innocent.

[@monkfish42]

Can we get a Smear Kier Tier list in a few weeks?

[@susanb4816]

Doubling down is a poker term, probably american i would guess

[@Ken_oh545]

Also used was the rarely-heard 'hair's breadth'. I thought he was referring to respiration in a large rabbit then I remembered ...

[@tukicat1399]

Sorry James.. silly comment about people had children through the war..its called NO CONTRACEPTIVES

[@delaporteful]

will anyone be locked up for this?, doubt it. will anyone be sacked for this, probably not. will these bonuses be taken back, but i bet you one thing, it will cost the taxpayers millions in compensation.

[@andrewemery4272]

Give Nick Wallis a CBE

[@ianmasters4225]

Knighthood.

[@mcz6239]

And to Alan Bates.

[@lestrem11]

What happened to Brexit? It wasn’t me was it James?

[@ryanforgo3500]

58:00 what if you thought of having zero chidren and even zero children is too much 😋

[@utredutredson1686]

And nobody mentions that King Charles was best mates with Jimmy Saville...oh and Charles's father was also friends with Saville shhhhhh

[@malcolmgreen1587]

James O’Brien asks why only a drama could move public opinion to an extent which factual media reporting could not. The answer is not just that it drew our sympathy for the victims. It terrified all of us that we ourselves could easily be victims of a system in which a machine regarded as infallible is deployed against us by a greedy and unfeeling agent and our fond belief that the courts will help us proves baseless. Lawyers and judges too believe in the machine’s infallibility. It’s the stuff of horror fiction. Compare The War Game (1966), which frightened us all, since none of us could feel safe thereafter. Only when we can see ourselves in that situation are we moved to demand that something be done.

[@mikifeosu]

This might seem a daft question but what happened to the “missing” money that wasn’t really missing? Listening to the show the other day, it seems a lot of the postmasters affected were making up the “shortfall” due to the system with their own money. Was it just a computer glitch that made money disappear? Where did the missing money go? Sounds a lot like someone skimming off the books 🤔

[@lestrem11]

Yet again I have found you out James. Do you want me to do your podcast for you? How much will I get? Not exactly hard to do it as badly as you, is it?

[@FreeFlyerUk]

Of course rhis isnt the only story that gets surpressed. PPE Partygate

[@ASpecimenUnknwn]

I know I'm a day late... But I think it's because it's been drip fed over the Media the last 20+ years.. This drama has condensed it all so you feel it in one hit and all the pain caused 38:32

[@MsCharlieBrown78]

I prefer starmerdrama!!

[@michellethompson5057]

Trailer parks are coming james

[@davidsmith5523]

So this guy, blames us fot him not covering the story. Yet every day he has a lengthy monologue to begin his programme. Private Eye were on it, but because he could not get callers to ring in, he largely ignored the poor Post Office workers. But he reserves the right to blame us. He disparages social media for being clicks and likes focused yet that was his very motivation for turning a blind eye. Yet you think of him as a crusader for the people. I see him as a defender of the estsblidhment pretending to oppose it.

[@davidsmith5523]

@user-td7rs3rq9b How can it be when he claims to be a centrist? In this case centrist allows him to pledge alegirnce to no real ideology or cause except his own personal objectives. Self promotion and enhanced status. A champagne socialist might be comfortable but commited to the majority of society being similarly placed. I feel that term is just an insult designed to imply that well off people are hypocrites not because of anything they do or say. But simply because they are financially secure. The irony of the term is that many who use it are morally bankrupt themselves. In my humble view. So it is meaningless to me.

[@abdell75roussos]

Its small, angry and gin...r. and a victim. Is he still trying to destroy the life of that WW2 hero with historic child abuse?

[@Election_History]

First Bro..

[@stevenhodgson4227]

shakespeare was shown mostly to working class people in the streets. It was Coro!

[@gerryh8367]

Andrew Saxe Coburg Gotha perhaps

[@chrisgilbert2935]

Starmer Drama

[@pegjames188]

4:58

[@markgreen3714]

I get really annoyed whenever I watch James O'Brien. I hate being a sychophant, and normally am able to find fault in some way with people I generally agree with. But very frustratingly I just sit through James' videos incessantly nodding like a crazy person. I still cling to the hope that one day James will say something I disagree with.

[@jonathantaylor6125]

You don’t have anything in common with them. Public school Ampleforth educated ‘Socialist’ 😂😂😂

[@Hevlikn]

Marx was part of the bourgeois. Solidarity and Consciousness can transcend Class structure

[@chatham43]

@Jonathan...there's many of them here "concerned" about the lower classes...😊

[@Ken_oh545]

Ampleforth , like Belmont, Worth Abbey, Douai Abbey, Stoneyhurst and Downside, is principally a Catholic institution, not a factory of social snobbery. In fact many private schools produce socialists in the same way that state school alumni are often staunchly Tory. Mind you, at my first formal dinner at Oxford a chap next to me announced that he had attended Bryanston then proudly claimed to have been the only Socialist in the whole school! Such a beautifully absurd moment I recall it to this day nearly 40 years on.

[@pegjames188]

Owkeosodisididisidhhhhhhhtjof

[@dunckhan2g]

Your Trump view on the Jan 6th hoax is skewed terribly

[@lestrem11]

You won’t get facts here kiddies. Bad luck.

[@eds-egg]

It's only a matter of time before we see a show entitled "What you have in common with victims of the vax".

[@JupiterThunder]

Jim O'G0b5h!te - The Whole 5h!tshow

[@kevinskiles2033]

Does Jupiter Thunder describe the sound of the comments emerging from your lower orifice?

[@Ken_oh545]

By Jove! Does my tympanum resonate to the mighty clang of Vulcan's anvil?