Downing Street has stated that Rishi Sunak is in favor of the honours forfeiture committee potentially reconsidering Paula Vennells’ CBE in light of the Horizon scandal.
There is an increasing demand for the ex-CEO to return her honor, as she was in charge of the organization during a time when they consistently denied any issues with their IT system. This call comes after an ITV drama brought attention back to the widespread injustice that occurred.
A request has been made for the honours forfeiture committee to revoke Vennells’ CBE due to the scandal, which has been deemed the biggest instance of unfair treatment in UK history. This petition has already received over 1 million signatures.
The official spokesperson for Sunak stated that the prime minister is in agreement with the public’s strong feelings of outrage regarding this matter. They also mentioned that the prime minister would fully support the forfeiture committee in reviewing the case, as it is ultimately their decision.
The prime minister stated that the government is committed to rectifying the situation for all those impacted and is exploring methods to expedite the compensation process. He reassured the public that the issue is being addressed and they are determined to make it right.
The spokesperson suggested that Fujitsu, the company responsible for the defective accounting software, may be required to aid in covering the cost of compensation. They stated, “It shouldn’t solely be taxpayer money that pays for Horizon compensation.”
On Monday, the justice secretary, Alex Chalk, is scheduled to meet with Post Office minister, Kevin Hollinrake, to address the matter of assisting the convicted branch managers in clearing their names. A statement will be given in the House of Commons where they will face demands to confirm that their convictions will be reversed.
The prime minister, who addressed a crowd in Accrington, Lancashire on Monday, stood by the government’s actions but expressed a desire to expedite the compensation process for those affected.
“We want to assure people that we are actively working to resolve this issue and have allocated funds for it,” he stated. “We will do everything in our power to make things right for those who have been impacted. It is unacceptable what has transpired and they should not have been subjected to such treatment.”
Vennells, the former head of the Post Office, consistently denied any issues with the Horizon IT system. However, she has now expressed remorse for the harm caused to post office operators who were wrongly convicted due to this system.
Over 700 branch managers were found guilty following the discovery that Horizon, a flawed accounting software developed by Fujitsu, falsely showed a discrepancy in funds in their stores.
This is not the first instance where there have been concerns raised about Vennells’ CBE. Last month, Hollinrake suggested that the possibility of revoking her honour should be looked into, and Labour MP Kevan Jones has been advocating for this action for some time now.
The leader of the Labour party, Keir Starmer, is advocating for the removal of prosecution powers from the Post Office and for previous convictions to be reexamined. This comes as the government faces renewed criticism for their handling of the scandal.
While on a visit to Loughborough, the leader of the Labour party stated that they believe the responsibility for prosecution should be shifted from the Post Office to the Crown Prosecution Service.
“I previously oversaw the Crown Prosecution Service, where we prosecuted for various departments. We have the capability to do so here as well – it should be done promptly. Furthermore, all remaining convictions must be reviewed collectively.”
He stated: “If the government were to pass legislation, we would certainly support it. It may be feasible to expedite these cases back to the court of appeal, as I have previously done as a prosecutor. Regardless of the method, it is imperative that these convictions are reexamined.”
The spokesperson for Downing Street did not mention if taking away the ability to prosecute would be one of the choices being examined, however, a representative for Sunak stated that the government is currently reviewing what went awry and what can be gleaned from the situation.
Source: theguardian.com
