Sir Ed Davey has spoken out on the Post Office scandal as he attacked senior executives, claiming he was “deeply misled”.
The Liberal Democrat leader, who was Postal Affairs Minister between 2010 and 2012 has blasted Post Office bosses over the Horizon IT scandal, which led to hundreds of postmasters being wrongly prosecuted.
He claimed that executives blocked him from meeting campaigners and that he regretted not going further to help victims.
Speaking to Times Radio, he said: “I feel that I was deeply misled by Post Office executives… they didn’t come clean. There were definitely attempts to stop me meeting [campaigners].
Ed Davey has lashed out at Post Office bosses
PA
“We were clearly misled. I think ministers from all political parties were misled.”
Earlier this week the Kingston and Surbiton MP said Post Office executives were “dragging their feet” and “not bringing evidence to the inquiry”.
He added: “Government ministers need to do more – I hope they watch this series and realise they’ve got to come forward with a proper compensation package.”
Between the years 1999 and 2015, the Post Office pursued branch owners across the country for alleged theft.
Between the years 1999 and 2015 the Post Office pursued branch owners across the country for alleged theft
PA
However, the financial losses suffered by the company were due to errors made by the Horizon software, which was made by the tech firm Fujitsu and used by the Post Office.
This resulted in over 700 prosecutions.
Many of those prosecuted lost their livelihoods, homes, and life savings as a result of having to pay back the money that the Post Office claimed was missing.
Four even committed suicide.
In 2019, the convictions were ruled wrongful after a group of Post Office operators won a high court case.
Dozens of victims however have died without receiving compensation.
A petition demanding that ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells be stripped of her CBE has now gathered over 100,000 signatures.
The former boss was in charge from 2012 and 2019 and apologised in 2021 for the “suffering” caused.
