Badenoch seeks urgent Fujitsu talks over Post Office compensation
Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, is seeking urgent talks with Fujitsu to thrash out a compensation package for sub-postmasters affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Sky News has learnt that Ms Badenoch wrote to Takahito Tokita, the Japanese company’s chief executive, in the wake of an acknowledgement from Fujitsu bosses that it had a “moral obligation” to contribute to the compensation bill.
In the letter, parts of which have been seen by Sky News, the minister wrote that she would “value the opportunity to discuss Fujitsu’s involvement in the Post Office Horizon scandal“.
“As you may know, my department is at the forefront of our government’s efforts to right the wrongs of the past.
“I am committed to ensuring that postmasters affected get the justice they deserve.”
“This is why the UK government announced new legislation last week, to overturn wrongful convictions and a plan to ensure swifter access to compensation.”
The scale of the eventual bill remains unclear, although ministers have said that the government has set aside £1bn to fund payouts to convicted and other affected sub-postmasters.
Government insiders believe that Fujitsu will be put under pressure to fund a substantial sum running to hundreds of millions of pounds after both it and the Post Office – which is owned by the government – lied and obstructed justice for many years.
On Tuesday, Paul Patterson, Fujitsu’s European chief executive, told MPs the company was “truly sorry” for its conduct, which has drawn renewed scrutiny after ITV broadcast Mr Bates vs the Post Office, a drama about what has been labelled Britain’s biggest-ever miscarriage of justice.
Kevin Hollinrake, the minister in Ms Badenoch’s department responsible for postal affairs, has been praised by some of those involved in the scandal for having repeatedly raised it in parliament while he was on the backbenchers.
Mr Hollinrake was also responsible for introducing £600,000 payouts last autumn for those whose convictions had been overturned.
He said earlier this week that negotiations with the company would be focused on “maximising the contribution to the taxpayer”.
“It’s a very significant bill [which] may end up north of £1bn.
“We should expect people who contributed to this scandal to contribute financially.”
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Post Office and Fujitsu grilled by MPs
Nevertheless, both Alan Bates, the architect of the original efforts to expose the fraud against sub-postmasters, and Jo Hamilton, another of the victims highlighted in the ITV drama, have criticised the bureaucracy attached to the compensation process.
“I understand that we are awaiting the conclusions of the Williams inquiry, but ahead of that I would welcome a discussion with you on the type of response Fujitsu might make and the role you foresee Fujitsu playing towards securing justice for those affected,” Ms Badenoch added in her letter to Mr Tokita.
One source said that Ms Badenoch had been scheduled to meet Fujitsu officials during a visit to Japan last year, but that talks had not taken place owing to diary clashes.
The Horizon contract is said to have earned £2.5bn for Fujitsu despite protracted and widespread warnings that the system was flawed.
To compound its role in creating the accounting software at the heart of the crisis, Fujitsu staff also gave evidence as expert witnesses during private prosecutions brought by the Post Office.
The scandal has raised questions about the behaviour of both the Japanese company and the Post Office, as well as the latter’s government shareholder body responsible for its oversight.
The prime minister has acknowledged Britons’ cost-of-living struggles in his Christmas message – and vowed that helping with the issue is his “priority”.
Sir Keir Starmer also urged members of the public to “each do our bit” and “reach out” to friends, relatives and neighbours during the festive period.
His message comes at the end of a difficult year for his government, with economic growth stuttering and Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing criticism over tax rises in the budget.
In a message recorded inside 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir said: “I know many across Britain are still struggling with the cost of living. Helping with that is my priority.
“But at this time of the year, which celebrates love and abundance, loss or hardship can feel even more acute.
“So call around to a neighbour. Check in on a friend or a relative who you haven’t heard from for a while. Reach out. It can make a huge difference.
“That is what Christmas is about.”
Sir Keir Starmer delivers his Christmas message from inside Downing Street. Pic: Downing Street
The prime minister thanked NHS workers along with members of the military and the emergency services who will be on duty on Christmas Day.
“Just as so many put their feet up, some truly special people will be pulling on their uniforms and heading out to work,” he said.
“Our NHS staff emergency services and the brave men and women of our armed forces, all playing their part, doing their bit to care for the nation and to keep us safe.
“Many volunteers will be out there as well. Serving food. Reaching out to help those lonely or in need.
“So on behalf of the whole country, I want to say a big thank you.
“As a nation, we should raise a glass to you this Christmas. But more than that, we should each do our bit as well.”
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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used her Christmas message to talk about “Christian values” and thanked “everyone who has supported me during my first year as leader of the opposition”.
“It’s been the biggest challenge of my life,” she said. “But it’s also been a wonderful year. I can’t wait to get back to work next year to create a better United Kingdom.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey spoke about the Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square – an annual gift from Norway to thank the UK for its support during the Second World War – in his message.
While saying the tree may “look a little underwhelming” on first glance, the Liberal Democrat leader said it was a reminder of “friendship and loyalty”.
He added: “It makes me think about people standing together in tough times – whether against the Nazis in the 1940s, or right now in Ukraine.
“And yeah, it might not be perfect, but this tree in Trafalgar Square makes me think about families and friends looking out for one another right here at home.
“I can’t think of a better symbol of the Christmas spirit of generosity, love and hope. Of light in the darkness.”
The International Monetary Fund’s mission chief for El Salvador issued a statement confirming that government authorities were proceeding with negotiations for the sale of the country’s Chivo Bitcoin wallet.
In a Monday statement, the IMF said El Salvador’s government was continuing to discuss its Bitcoin (BTC) project with the fund’s officials, and “negotiations for the sale of the government e-wallet Chivo are well advanced.” The announcement signaled that the government may be preparing to sell some or all of its crypto holdings in the Chivo wallet.
The statement followed a May deal with El Salvador in which the IMF would pay $120 million as part of a 2024 loan agreement for $1.4 billion. As part of the deal, the government would stop acquiring Bitcoin.
It’s unclear whether El Salvador is abiding by the terms of the deal. Though the IMF reported in July that the country’s government had not purchased any BTC since December 2024, El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office continues to announce crypto buys, including 1,090 Bitcoin worth about $100 million in November.
Related: CFTC changes guard as Selig takes reins, Pham departs
According to the terms of the IMF-El Salvador deal made public, the government would make public sector engagement of BTC-related economic activity “confined,” the private sector’s acceptance of Bitcoin would be voluntary, and it would wind down involvement in the Chivo wallet. Cointelegraph reached out to the IMF for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
El Salvador recognized Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 and began acquiring the cryptocurrency as part of a strategy largely pushed by President Nayib Bukele. According to data provided by the country’s Bitcoin Office, the government held 7,509 Bitcoin as of Monday, worth about $659 million at the time of publication.
‘It’s not stopping,’ says Bukele on Bitcoin buys
Despite the reported deal between the IMF and El Salvador, Bukele said in March that the government would continue its Bitcoin investment strategy, purchasing at least one BTC daily. It’s unclear how the president’s statement could affect the IMF agreement.
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