‘ Whitewash’ warning over PO scandal

LABOUR is calling for the scope of an inquiry into the Horizon sub- postmasters scandal to be changed or risk it being written off as a “whitewash”.

The Government is being urged to give the inquiry powers to compel witnesses to be questioned and documents studied.

Sub- postmasters were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting after the Horizon IT system was introduced to Post Office branches in 1999.

Post Office chairman Tim Parker recently apologised for “historical failings” which he said had seriously affected some postmasters.

He said the company is resetting its relationship with postmasters with reforms that prevent such events happening again.

Labour claimed the inquiry into the scandal has no teeth, with no statutory footing.

Shadow Business Minister

Chi Onwurah said: “Any inquiry worth its salt must get to the bottom of what happened, identify who was responsible, and make recommendations to ensure the injustice was put right.

“We are profoundly disappointed the Government’s proposal for a judge- led inquiry gets nowhere near that.”

Earlier this month a former Yorkshire sub- postmaster who was wrongly convicted of false accounting aged just 20 said campaigners would battle on until thoseresponsible fortheaccounting scandal are held to account.

Chris Trousdale, from Whitby, was one of the country’s youngest sub- postmasters when he was prosecuted by the Post Office 18 years ago and advised to plead guilty or face jail.

Earlier this month the Post Office said it would not oppose appeals by 44 former sub- postmasters to overturn convictions where it had acted as prosecutor.