Call for an inquiry into the Post Office

LABOUR HAS called on the Government to launch a “full inquiry” following a legal ruling affecting hundreds of sub-postmasters.

Shadow Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy minister Gill Furniss, the Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough MP, said courts had last month found the Post Office was at fault for aggressive prosecutions of sub-postmasters over an IT system.

Some sub-postmasters were unlawfully jailed.

A settlement of £57.7m was reached in the case, funded by the Post Office.

Ms Furniss urged the Government to launch a “full review of the governance and management of the Post Office” and asked what support it was giving to those affected by the “scandal”.

Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility Kelly Tolhurst said the Government welcomed the “agreement by the parties”.

She added the new chief executive was “making sure that the recommendations made by the judge and making sure that culture change and changes within the Post Office happen”.

Speaking during Commons Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy questions, Ms Furniss said: “The courts have found that the Post Office was at fault for their aggressive prosecutions (of ) sub-postmasters for the errors within the Horizon IT system.

Prosecutions that saw some subpostmasters unlawfully jailed and many losing their homes, livelihoods and reputations.”

Ms Tolhurst said the Post Office reached a settlement in the group litigation claim which was brought by 555 postmasters or former postmasters.

“This has culminated in a successful mediation, a settlement that was reached of £57.7 million funded by the Post Office,” she said.