Rishi Sunak adds to pressure on former Post Office head Paula Vennells to have CBE stripped over Horizon scandal
Rishi Sunak has added to the pressure on the former head of the Post Office to have her CBE removed in the wake of the Horizon scandal.
The prime minister’s spokesman said he would “strongly support” the Honours Forfeiture Committee if it were to look at taking away Paula Vennells’s award.
There are growing calls for Ms Vennells’s CBE to be rescinded or handed back, after ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office brought the issue back to the fore.
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The show tells how former sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses were held liable by the Post Office for financial discrepancies thrown up by its computerised accounting system Horizon, developed by Fujitsu.
The justice secretary, Alex Chalk, and postal minister Kevin Hollinrake were set to meet on Monday to discuss the next steps to address the scandal.
A public petition to remove Ms Vennells’s CBE has received more than a million signatures.
The petition is made out to Sir Chris Wormald, the chair of the honours Forfeiture Committee in the Cabinet Office.
Mr Sunak said the government “should do everything we can” to make the scandal right.
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Sunak on Post Office scandal
Speaking earlier today, the prime minister said: “These things obviously started a very long time ago, and it’s right that they’re looked at properly and the stories are appalling.
“People were treated absolutely appallingly. That’s wrong. And we should do everything we can to make it right.”
Mr Sunak said that, as chancellor, he approved the funding for the compensation to be paid to victims of the scandal.
The true story behind drama on Horizon IT scandal
Post Office CEO Paula Vennells, in 2018
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he would support the government if it brought forward legislation to exonerate the hundreds of people who were convicted.
Sir Keir Starmer added that the Crown Prosecution Service – which he used to run – should take over the cases the Post Office was involved in, so there is an “independent prosecutor looking at these cases in the future”.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that it is investigating the Post Office over potential fraud offences after the handling of the Horizon IT scandal.
The organisation’s pursuit of branch managers led to more than 700 prosecutions, criminal convictions and, in some cases, prison sentences.
Reports suggest that since Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, 50 new potential victims have approached lawyers.
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A public inquiry into the scandal is also ongoing.
Ms Vennells has previously said she is “truly sorry” for the “suffering” caused to sub-postmasters who were wrongly convicted of offences.
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Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
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