Police are investigating individuals from Post Office and Fujitsu, but in light of other investigations such as Partygate, which was very limited, can we be certain that this will be thorough and will target the right people. I have lost confidence in many of our institutions after the shenanigans of the last 4 years.
One thing about the show that I’ve been wondering about is the role in the saga of Angela Van Den Bogerd. She’s portrayed in the drama as a significant force in the cover up, but reading other reports, she doesn’t seem to be considered a major character in the story. Was she significantly to blame? Is she a convenient patsy? I don’t know enough about the case to say, but I did feel like she was portrayed almost like a cartoon villain.
Along with being able to take Postmasters to crown court with no evidence of their guilt, what happened to the overpaid money these persons paid, just to keep their dignity intact. Two damning issues that need answering.
One thing about the show that I’ve been wondering about is the role in the saga of Angela Van Den Bogerd. She’s portrayed in the drama as a significant force in the cover up, but reading other reports, she doesn’t seem to be considered a major character in the story. Was she significantly to blame? Is she a convenient patsy? I don’t know enough about the case to say, but I did feel like she was portrayed almost like a cartoon villain.
She did appear before a Commons Select Committee, along with Paula Vennells in 2015, part of that was shown in the ITV drama.
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
One thing about the show that I’ve been wondering about is the role in the saga of Angela Van Den Bogerd. She’s portrayed in the drama as a significant force in the cover up, but reading other reports, she doesn’t seem to be considered a major character in the story. Was she significantly to blame? Is she a convenient patsy? I don’t know enough about the case to say, but I did feel like she was portrayed almost like a cartoon villain.
She did appear before a Commons Select Committee, along with Paula Vennells in 2015, part of that was shown in the ITV drama.
Yeah I did see that, but in the drama, her character was portrayed as a sort of bullying enforcer. Some might say a character not unlike a recently departed CAFC employee who resembles a saggy ballbag. Allegedly.
I’m just interested in whether that portrayal is representative of the truth.
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Sunak was trying to do that whilst out today, but yet again it's all from the compensation side of it, nothing said about bringing the people responsible to justice.
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Sunak was trying to do that whilst out today, but yet again it's all from the compensation side of it, nothing said about bringing the people responsible to justice.
I so agree. This isn't just about getting proper compensation for the postmasters - although Lord knows that is deserved - it should also be about bringing to justice those in authority who knew innocent people were being prosecuted and lied and tried to cover it up.
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Like you I have been on this story for some time and I can't even watch the drama at the moment and the excellent Toby Jones. I will soon. I found it heartbreaking that so many people went to prison and had their lives wrecked and many died with a strain on their character. Ed Davey has questions to answer as he was in the coalition at the time and just accepted that the high number of postmasters were thieves; his remit was the Post office.
It should go above 1 million signatures today or tomorrow.
With contracts being awarded to organisations who are fronted/ run by Tories/members of families of Tory MPs/ Tory donors, this smacks of a similar thing as the PPE and associated Covid scandals.
This has been and continues to be happening right under our very noses, with people like Michelle Mone and Dido Harding ending up with gongs and enoblement, despite shady dealings, waste of tax payers money, and enrichment of themselves and their families at tax payers expense.
I see Paula Vennells appears to have been hiding in plain sight (a la Savile) as an Anglican priest since 2006 and serving, until 2021, as a member of the Church of England Ethical Investment Advisory Group. Someone like that couldn’t possibly have been lying about innocent people, now could they?
With contracts being awarded to organisations who are fronted/ run by Tories/members of families of Tory MPs/ Tory donors, this smacks of a similar thing as the PPE and associated Covid scandals.
This has been and continues to be happening right under our very noses, with people like Michelle Mone and Dido Harding ending up with gongs and enoblement, despite shady dealings, waste of tax payers money, and enrichment of themselves and their families at tax payers expense.
I see Paula Vennells appears to have been hiding in plain sight (a la Savile) as an Anglican priest since 2006 and serving, until 2021, as a member of the Church of England Ethical Investment Advisory Group. Someone like that couldn’t possibly have been lying about innocent people, now could they?
This a thousand times, corruption must be rooted out and stopped.
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Like you I have been on this story for some time and I can't even watch the drama at the moment and the excellent Toby Jones. I will soon. I found it heartbreaking that so many people went to prison and had their lives wrecked and many died with a strain on their character. Ed Davey has questions to answer as he was in the coalition at the time and just accepted that the high number of postmasters were thieves; his remit was the Post office.
It should go above 1 million signatures today or tomorrow.
Snap! I've got all 4 episodes recorded and like you, can't bring myself to watch them as I know they are just going to make me so angry.
Signed the petition to strip Vennells of her title earlier this week, glad it’s gained momentum.
Thing that angers me the most is I’d not heard a thing on this until this brilliant drama. Why had so few investigative journos / producers not wanted to go big on it until now?
A complete aside, but through all our years of alternative ownership, investigative journalists were so wary or plain unwilling to take risks and dive into it, particularly during the Southall/ Niemer period of nonsense. Always thought our press had a bit more gravitas about it but that just doesn’t seem the case anymore.
Well I can explain that. Basically the media landscape has been changed by rolling news and social media which demands more and more instant content. Investigative journalism costs a lot of money, takes time before any content is ready, and might not deliver what was hoped for. This affects the BBC too. Back in the day Panorama had a prime time slot on Monday evenings and always ran for an hour. ITV had World in Action. I didnt know Panorama had covered this til I read it here because the neutered 30 min stuff they turn out is often quite shallow and stagey, so I stopped following it.
I came hard up against it with the ESI stuff. Adrian Goldberg was initally all over it but when he found we hadn’t got a smoking gun, i.e. solid evidence of outright criminal behaviour, he dropped it like a stone. And into the bargain saw fit to lecture me on how Farnell is probably nothing worse than an ambulance-chasing lawyer. But that gave me the impetus to do the Dossier website. It is basically an online resource that reduces the legwork a proper journo would need to do themselves. There was also a Panorama producer who was sniffing around, thanks to @JamesSeed but she disappeared into the ether. She was more polite and positive but I think it was the same story. No ready to go smoking gun of criminality. But I still believe one day either Farnell or Southall will try it on again somewhere, and then a journalist will find a use for some of our material and then who knows…
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Sunak was trying to do that whilst out today, but yet again it's all from the compensation side of it, nothing said about bringing the people responsible to justice.
One final point. I agree about Sunak - he's just seen a bandwagon and jumped on it big time this morning.
But let's not pretend it is only the Conservative party that is at fault here. (And don't forget, it was James Arbuthnot - a Conservative MP - who played a key role in helping the sub postmasters.) This scandal started in 1999 - fully 11 years under Labour control before the the coalition got into power. And the Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey, hardly comes out of this looking good.
Simple fact is politicians across the political spectrum should be hanging their heads in shame for their failure to act or get involved.
I think everyone should watch it, it made me very angry and the more that people realise what has been going on the better.
We need maximum pressure from everyone, to ensure that all involved in the scandal and cover-up are properly punished. I used to believe that this was a fair and just country, I know now that is far from being true.
Another thing - and sorry, this is just about the show - it’s not a huge deal or even to do with the story, but I just thought about it - did anyone else find Nadhim Zahawi playing himself a bit jarring? I just didn’t see the need for it and it felt like a crass bit of PR. Nobody else played themself, why just him?
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Sunak was trying to do that whilst out today, but yet again it's all from the compensation side of it, nothing said about bringing the people responsible to justice.
One final point. I agree about Sunak - he's just seen a bandwagon and jumped on it big time this morning.
But let's not pretend it is only the Conservative party that is at fault here. (And don't forget, it was James Arbuthnot - a Conservative MP - who played a key role in helping the sub postmasters.) This scandal started in 1999 - fully 11 years under Labour control before the the coalition got into power. And the Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey, hardly comes out of this looking good.
Simple fact is politicians across the political spectrum should be hanging their heads in shame for their failure to act or get involved.
Agreed. This shouldn’t just be a bash a Tory debate
Another thing - and sorry, this is just about the show - it’s not a huge deal or even to do with the story, but I just thought about it - did anyone else find Nadhim Zahawi playing himself a bit jarring? I just didn’t see the need for it and it felt like a crass bit of PR. Nobody else played themself, why just him?
Worth mentioning that this outrageous scandal was spread across various ruling political parties. Which leads me onto the question of why has this gone unpunished and uninvestigated until now?
Adam Crozier also has a lot to answer, he was head of GPO when the contract were handed to Fujitsu, This was the man who was head of th FA at the age of 35 with no previous involvement with football except for trials at a couple of low level Scotish football clubs. He only lasted in that job for a couple of years. He is at present CEO of BT. Most of the present government ministers were not even MP's when this debacle started.
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Sunak was trying to do that whilst out today, but yet again it's all from the compensation side of it, nothing said about bringing the people responsible to justice.
One final point. I agree about Sunak - he's just seen a bandwagon and jumped on it big time this morning.
But let's not pretend it is only the Conservative party that is at fault here. (And don't forget, it was James Arbuthnot - a Conservative MP - who played a key role in helping the sub postmasters.) This scandal started in 1999 - fully 11 years under Labour control before the the coalition got into power. And the Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey, hardly comes out of this looking good.
Simple fact is politicians across the political spectrum should be hanging their heads in shame for their failure to act or get involved.
I agree, but the Tories have been in power for 13 years and have done very little to punish those responsible and they are still awarding contracts to Fujitsu who do have links with Tories.
Another thing - and sorry, this is just about the show - it’s not a huge deal or even to do with the story, but I just thought about it - did anyone else find Nadhim Zahawi playing himself a bit jarring? I just didn’t see the need for it and it felt like a crass bit of PR. Nobody else played themself, why just him?
Trying to show he’s the good guy…
I imagine the production company must have approached him and not the other way around and also his words are in the public record of the committee?
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Sunak was trying to do that whilst out today, but yet again it's all from the compensation side of it, nothing said about bringing the people responsible to justice.
One final point. I agree about Sunak - he's just seen a bandwagon and jumped on it big time this morning.
But let's not pretend it is only the Conservative party that is at fault here. (And don't forget, it was James Arbuthnot - a Conservative MP - who played a key role in helping the sub postmasters.) This scandal started in 1999 - fully 11 years under Labour control before the the coalition got into power. And the Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey, hardly comes out of this looking good.
Simple fact is politicians across the political spectrum should be hanging their heads in shame for their failure to act or get involved.
I agree, but the Tories have been in power for 13 years and have done very little to punish those responsible and they are still awarding contracts to Fujitsu who do have links with Tories.
This debacle wasn't just on there watch though albeit I agree with your point.
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Sunak was trying to do that whilst out today, but yet again it's all from the compensation side of it, nothing said about bringing the people responsible to justice.
One final point. I agree about Sunak - he's just seen a bandwagon and jumped on it big time this morning.
But let's not pretend it is only the Conservative party that is at fault here. (And don't forget, it was James Arbuthnot - a Conservative MP - who played a key role in helping the sub postmasters.) This scandal started in 1999 - fully 11 years under Labour control before the the coalition got into power. And the Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey, hardly comes out of this looking good.
Simple fact is politicians across the political spectrum should be hanging their heads in shame for their failure to act or get involved.
I agree, but the Tories have been in power for 13 years and have done very little to punish those responsible and they are still awarding contracts to Fujitsu who do have links with Tories.
This debacle wasn't just on there watch though albeit I agree with your point.
The link I provided earlier showed Computer Weekly got involved in 2009, so presumably there wasn't widespread knowledge of the scandal before that date.
I was aware of this case as it rumbled along but only in the background.
The fact its taken a TV drama to show us all what really went on and that its only because of this show that the headlines are being grabbed and there's now a demand for people to be held to account is quite disturbing really, in its own way.
As is the obviously misguided reliance on the IT "solution" that was installed as being completely infallible and peoples word not being believed, in the complete and total absence of any real evidence that they had done anything wrong - a classic case of "computer says no".
I'm definitely going to resist getting a smart meter for as long as I can!
This. x 100.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
Sunak was trying to do that whilst out today, but yet again it's all from the compensation side of it, nothing said about bringing the people responsible to justice.
One final point. I agree about Sunak - he's just seen a bandwagon and jumped on it big time this morning.
But let's not pretend it is only the Conservative party that is at fault here. (And don't forget, it was James Arbuthnot - a Conservative MP - who played a key role in helping the sub postmasters.) This scandal started in 1999 - fully 11 years under Labour control before the the coalition got into power. And the Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey, hardly comes out of this looking good.
Simple fact is politicians across the political spectrum should be hanging their heads in shame for their failure to act or get involved.
I agree, but the Tories have been in power for 13 years and have done very little to punish those responsible and they are still awarding contracts to Fujitsu who do have links with Tories.
This debacle wasn't just on there watch though albeit I agree with your point.
The link I provided earlier showed Computer Weekly got involved in 2009, so presumably there wasn't widespread knowledge of the scandal before that date.
Agreed, but there was enough exposure for successive governments to be aware.
Various press comment about this .. as has been said umpteen times up the page, it's pretty scandalous that despite all the knowledge and interest in this affair that it's taken a very high quality TV drama to bring it to general attention and to (hopefully) start some proper in depth investigations.
Another thing - and sorry, this is just about the show - it’s not a huge deal or even to do with the story, but I just thought about it - did anyone else find Nadhim Zahawi playing himself a bit jarring? I just didn’t see the need for it and it felt like a crass bit of PR. Nobody else played themself, why just him?
Trying to show he’s the good guy…
I imagine the production company must have approached him and not the other way around and also his words are in the public record of the committee?
I have followed most of the Radio 4 content. What I don't understand is, with the number of 700+ sub-postmasters prosecuted, why no one questioned the probability of that number of postmasters being on the fiddle, against the probability of faults with a new IT system, where there are a proven track records across many industries of serious faults as these systems go online. Didn't the investigators prosecuting the sub-postmasters consider this fact, or was that just too inconvenient? Whilst it would be good if those responsible were prosecuted and a certain companiy banned from further contacts, this will never happen. Politicians will close ranks. The police won't want to upset the government incase the Chief Constable doesn't get his knighthood. Post Office managers will dissappear into other industries or the church and claim they knew nothing. Government ties to the IT company will be too strong to break ranks. Solving this is way too deep in the 'too difficult' box. Big inquiries are a complete waste of time, imo. Does anyone expect that the persons ultimately responsible for Grenfell, partygate and the ongoing covid enquiry, to name three, will be sanctioned, prosecuted and fined appropriately or jailed? Slapped wrists and a day on the naughty step is as much as can be expected. And then compensated for the inconvenience suffered with a highly paid consultancy role, public award, senior political position, or all three. No interest previously from our largely right wing mass media to undertake proper investigate journalism to establish the facts, incase it inconveniences the Tories. And this enables a hold over them. And no pressure on the Post Office to settle claims in a timely manner. I'm expecting to see claimants still awaiting compensation in ten years. Once the fuss from the TV documentary has died down, obstructions will return, and the claimants will be forgotten again. Today, Sunak, the scum who we are unfortunate to have as our Prime Minister, jumped on the populist bandwagon in support of the sub-postmasters, in a vain attempt to gain popularity. Yesterday he didn’t give a fuck regarding their plight.
Comments
Police are investigating individuals from Post Office and Fujitsu, but in light of other investigations such as Partygate, which was very limited, can we be certain that this will be thorough and will target the right people. I have lost confidence in many of our institutions after the shenanigans of the last 4 years.
Was she significantly to blame? Is she a convenient patsy? I don’t know enough about the case to say, but I did feel like she was portrayed almost like a cartoon villain.
Two damning issues that need answering.
Private Eye has been covering this story for years. Every time I have read an article about it, I have been left fuming.
Indeed, I have been driving anyone who will listen to me (!) mad for many years by going on about the huge injustice of it all.
And yet it has taken a TV programme to finally get the powers that be to do something. And now they are falling over themselves to get justice for these poor.
I understand this scandal is going to be debated in the HoC tomorrow, You watch all the MPs from all parties fall over themselves to say they knew there was an injustice and that it needs to be rectified urgently.
This is not just disturbing, it is a scandal in its own right.
I’m just interested in whether that portrayal is representative of the truth.
Like you I have been on this story for some time and I can't even watch the drama at the moment and the excellent Toby Jones.
I will soon.
I found it heartbreaking that so many people went to prison and had their lives wrecked and many died with a strain on their character.
Ed Davey has questions to answer as he was in the coalition at the time and just accepted that the high number of postmasters were thieves; his remit was the Post office.
It should go above 1 million signatures today or tomorrow.
This has been and continues to be happening right under our very noses, with people like Michelle Mone and Dido Harding ending up with gongs and enoblement, despite shady dealings, waste of tax payers money, and enrichment of themselves and their families at tax payers expense.
I see Paula Vennells appears to have been hiding in plain sight (a la Savile) as an Anglican priest since 2006 and serving, until 2021, as a member of the Church of England Ethical Investment Advisory Group. Someone like that couldn’t possibly have been lying about innocent people, now could they?
I came hard up against it with the ESI stuff. Adrian Goldberg was initally all over it but when he found we hadn’t got a smoking gun, i.e. solid evidence of outright criminal behaviour, he dropped it like a stone. And into the bargain saw fit to lecture me on how Farnell is probably nothing worse than an ambulance-chasing lawyer. But that gave me the impetus to do the Dossier website. It is basically an online resource that reduces the legwork a proper journo would need to do themselves. There was also a Panorama producer who was sniffing around, thanks to @JamesSeed but she disappeared into the ether. She was more polite and positive but I think it was the same story. No ready to go smoking gun of criminality. But I still believe one day either Farnell or Southall will try it on again somewhere, and then a journalist will find a use for some of our material and then who knows…
But let's not pretend it is only the Conservative party that is at fault here. (And don't forget, it was James Arbuthnot - a Conservative MP - who played a key role in helping the sub postmasters.) This scandal started in 1999 - fully 11 years under Labour control before the the coalition got into power. And the Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey, hardly comes out of this looking good.
Simple fact is politicians across the political spectrum should be hanging their heads in shame for their failure to act or get involved.
We need maximum pressure from everyone, to ensure that all involved in the scandal and cover-up are properly punished. I used to believe that this was a fair and just country, I know now that is far from being true.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/m000jf7j?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
I imagine the production company must have approached him and not the other way around and also his words are in the public record of the committee?
Oh, hang on...
Same 💩 different 📅
Anyone talking about coincidence is either an alien, a trusting simpleton or complicit.
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What I don't understand is, with the number of 700+ sub-postmasters prosecuted, why no one questioned the probability of that number of postmasters being on the fiddle, against the probability of faults with a new IT system, where there are a proven track records across many industries of serious faults as these systems go online. Didn't the investigators prosecuting the sub-postmasters consider this fact, or was that just too inconvenient?
Whilst it would be good if those responsible were prosecuted and a certain companiy banned from further contacts, this will never happen.
Politicians will close ranks. The police won't want to upset the government incase the Chief Constable doesn't get his knighthood. Post Office managers will dissappear into other industries or the church and claim they knew nothing. Government ties to the IT company will be too strong to break ranks. Solving this is way too deep in the 'too difficult' box.
Big inquiries are a complete waste of time, imo. Does anyone expect that the persons ultimately responsible for Grenfell, partygate and the ongoing covid enquiry, to name three, will be sanctioned, prosecuted and fined appropriately or jailed? Slapped wrists and a day on the naughty step is as much as can be expected. And then compensated for the inconvenience suffered with a highly paid consultancy role, public award, senior political position, or all three.
No interest previously from our largely right wing mass media to undertake proper investigate journalism to establish the facts, incase it inconveniences the Tories. And this enables a hold over them.
And no pressure on the Post Office to settle claims in a timely manner. I'm expecting to see claimants still awaiting compensation in ten years. Once the fuss from the TV documentary has died down, obstructions will return, and the claimants will be forgotten again.
Today, Sunak, the scum who we are unfortunate to have as our Prime Minister, jumped on the populist bandwagon in support of the sub-postmasters, in a vain attempt to gain popularity. Yesterday he didn’t give a fuck regarding their plight.