The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry has heard testimony from senior minister Pat McFadden, who stated that the government must take accountability for the Post Office scandal. McFadden, who served as postal affairs minister from 2007 to 2009, was one of several officials giving evidence to the inquiry into the wrongful prosecution of over 700 sub-postmasters by the Post Office.
In addition, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who held the postal affairs minister position from 2010 to 2012, also testified and revealed that he was misled by senior executives at the company. He specifically named former managing director David Smith and ex-chief executive Paula Vennells as individuals who had provided false information.
During his witness statement, Sir Ed expressed regret for not being able to see through the misinformation he was given, stating, “If you are lied to directly by your officials, or indirectly by an arm’s length body like the Post Office, it seems inherently difficult for any minister to have sufficient information to question the replies they have received in good faith.” He also apologized for his previous response to a letter from former sub-postmaster Sir Alan Bates, in which he stated that a meeting would not serve any useful purpose.
The inquiry audience reacted with disappointment as Sir Ed admitted to not remembering reading the initial letter from Sir Alan Bates. He explained that he had signed off on a response based on advice he received from his department at the time, which he now recognizes as “poorly judged.”
Throughout his testimony, Sir Ed emphasized that he followed the advice given to him by officials in his department. This theme was also echoed by Mr. McFadden, who stated that ministers are “reliant on the information they get from officials.”
The government’s role in not identifying the scandal was a key focus during the inquiry, with Mr. McFadden stressing that “if it’s state-owned, ultimately the accountability will lie with the government.” He also noted that the legislation in place at the time deliberately created a separation between the government and the Post Office.
The faulty accounting software, Horizon, used by the Post Office since the early 2000s was also a major topic of discussion. The computer program incorrectly generated financial losses, leading to the prosecution of sub-postmasters for theft and false accounting by the Post Office itself. This issue gained renewed attention following the airing of the ITV drama “Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.”
Despite being made aware of concerns from former home secretary Jacqui Smith, Mr. McFadden did not raise the alarm with the Post Office. In hindsight, he expressed regret, stating, “Of course, I wish I had done more to ask the Post Office if they were really sure their IT system was as robust as they suggested.” He also denied speaking to then business secretary John Hutton about allegations made by sub-postmasters regarding Horizon.
In conclusion, both Mr. McFadden and Sir Ed expressed their regret for not taking further action to address the issues at the Post Office. The government has announced that it will provide an update on the compensation process for sub-postmasters before parliament’s summer recess. The inquiry continues to shed light on the accountability of the government and the Post Office in this scandal.
