Let Us Pay…

From: James Morrow [mailto:jc.morrow@btopenworld.com]

Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 4:34 PM
To: 'keir.starmer.mp@parliament.uk' <keir.starmer.mp@parliament.uk>; 'rishi.sunak.mp@parliament.uk' <rishi.sunak.mp@parliament.uk>; 'edward.davey.mp@parliament.uk' <edward.davey.mp@parliament.uk>; 'carla.denyer@greenparty.org.uk' <carla.denyer@greenparty.org.uk>; 'lizzy.buchan@mirror.co.uk' <lizzy.buchan@mirror.co.uk>
Subject: FW: Let Us Pay...

 

From: James Morrow [mailto:jc.morrow@btopenworld.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 2:47 PM
To: 'Kemi.badenoch.mp@parliament.uk' <Kemi.badenoch.mp@parliament.uk>; 'Victoria@bbc.co.uk' <Victoria@bbc.co.uk>; 'Laura.Kuenssberg@bbc.co.uk' <Laura.Kuenssberg@bbc.co.uk>
Subject: Let Us Pay...

 

Dear Kemi,

As you are aware, the Horizon Scandal Public Inquiry is, in effect, centred upon the people that did everything in their power to cover up Horizon’s failings, and the systems that supported them in this endeavour…      

In contrast, the post office sub-postmasters and mistresses were recognised as being innocent years ago, so there is no reason why a significant interim compensation sum cannot be provided – it’s about how they were treated by the Post Office and the Government as much as how they were treated by the Courts…  There was a scheme to award £600k as full and final settlement, but this was for a ‘normal’ legal situation, whereas this is anything but normal.  Perhaps a £500k interim compensation payment and a rapid system to identify and pay the rest is in order…

Certainly, the ‘Only Ones’ have been waiting, in many cases, over a decade for justice and compensation; and there is no reason, in principle, why they cannot receive compensation whilst the annulment of recognised invalid prosecution results continues on in the background, and so the Government must continue on with interim compensation with utmost speed…  They can, of course, determine a proportion that Fujitsu must pay later, and charge them accordingly, but the sub-postmasters and postmistresses deserve much more than having to wait for such ‘niceties’ to be sorted out. 

The Government, who are the sole shareholder of Post Office Limited, must bear the weight of the payments at this time – the sub-postmasters and postmistresses should not be made to wait any longer…  It is particularly abhorrent that elements of the Government themselves have at times been complicit in these disreputable actions against these post-office workers, and now is the time for the Government to act decisively, transparently and with alacrity in support of these workers who have suffered so much and who are still suffering…       

Kemi, you have already commented that the Horizon scandal is just one element of the failings in the Post Office culture and structure and, whilst this is true, it must not distract from gaining redress for the Horizon victims – I’m sure that more than 555 means something to you…  It is time…  Think outside the box – I have every confidence in you…       

Yours with best wishes,

James