Jeremy Hunt brands Post Office affair a ‘horrific scandal’ as he vows to accelerate victims’ compensation
JEREMY Hunt today described the Post Office wrongful prosecution affair as a “horrific scandal” and vowed to accelerate compensation to victims.
The Chancellor spoke out after it emerged that Met Police detectives were investigating over potential fraud offences in the case.
Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly accused of stealing cash over accounting errors caused by the Post Office’s Horizon IT system.
Many were jailed and at least four took their own lives.
Their plight was shown in ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office this week.
On the Government’s response, Mr Hunt said: “We started paying compensation — nearly £150million to around 3,000 people. We hear that message loud and clear.”
He added on BBC Radio 4’s Today: “I want to do everything we can to speed up that process.”
It is unclear whether the police probe relates to individuals or the Post Office as a corporate entity.
Paula Vennells, who left her role as the Post Office’s chief exec in 2019 with a £5million payout, has faced calls to have her CBE removed.
The former Anglican vicar has been holed up in her £2million pad in Bedfordshire since the TV drama was shown.
Hampshire sub-postmaster Jo Hamilton, 66, who had her conviction for stealing £36,000 quashed in 2021, said: “If she’s got any moral compass, she should give it back. I would before it was taken off me.
“But in spite of being a vicar, she doesn’t seem to have a moral code.”