GOVERNMENT MUST SUPPORT A PUBLIC ENQUIRY INTO POSTMASTERS AND THE HORIZON NETWORK

In a debate on The Post Office and its Horizon accounting software system, I called on the UK Government to back a full and comprehensive public enquiry into the problems with the Horizon Software System and the Post Office network.

Some sub postmasters were prosecuted or forced into bankruptcy after being told by the Post Office to repay thousands of pounds linked to accounting discrepancies. A number of sub postmasters were even sent to jail, some were declared bankrupt and there was at least one suicide after problems with this IT system led to accusations of theft, fraud and false accounting.

The consequences for the sub postmasters affected have been extremely damaging far-reaching. Whilst I welcomed the enquiry into the Horizon case that will be held by the Select Committee on Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Post Office’s own internal review found the Horizon system was not fit for purpose and there must be serious questions as to why public money was used to defend this case, costing millions of pounds in legal fees.

It is now time for the Government to accept this and launch a comprehensive public enquiry to ensure that issues such as these are never repeated.

Watch my contribution below.