More than 100 MPs support call for judge-led inquiry into the Horizon scandal Archived Message Posted by sashimi on December 20, 2020, 11:50 pm Peter Lazenby, 20 December 2020 (quote) More than 100 MPs from several parties are backing a Commons motion calling for a judge-led inquiry into the scandal surrounding the wrongful convictions of subpostmasters for theft. The scandal began in 1999 when the Post Office installed the new Horizon IT computer system. Within a year the system was registering the disappearance of tens of thousands of pounds in funds from Post Office branch accounts. As a result 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted and 550 were convicted. Many were given prison sentences, with at least one committing suicide. Many became bankrupt and lost their homes. But the financial irregularities were found in 2015 to have been caused by a fault in the computer system. After a series of appeals the convictions were quashed and the Post Office paid out almost £58 million in compensation - though around £46 million of this was absorbed in legal costs. No-one in Post Office management has been prosecuted or even disciplined over the debacle. An independent "review" is to take place, but the Communications Workers' Union wants a judge-led inquiry into the scandal under which senior management figures could be compelled to give evidence. An early day motion supporting the call has now been signed by 102 MPs, the latest being former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The EDM expresses "concern at the scope and formation" of the current inquiry outlined by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Instead, it "strongly urges the government to institute a judge-led public inquiry into this matter at the earliest opportunity." The EDM "notes with the deepest sadness that subpostmasters have served custodial sentences and suffered bankruptcy for offences they did not commit." Previously former Conservative minister Dr Julian Lewis described the prosecution of postmasters over missing money as "one of the worst disasters in public life since the contaminated blood scandal." (/quote) -- https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/more-than-100-mps-support-call-judge-led-inquiry-horizon-scandal Message Thread: More than 100 MPs support call for judge-led inquiry into the Horizon scandal - sashimi December 20, 2020, 11:50 pm Re: More than 100 MPs support call for judge-led inquiry into the Horizon scandal - Mary December 21, 2020, 3:26 am How many people were made to suffer to protect the cladding - Keith-264 December 21, 2020, 8:43 am Re: More than 100 MPs support call for judge-led inquiry into the Horizon scandal - Mary December 21, 2020, 10:20 am Victory for Subpostmasters, defeat for press freedom - sashimi December 21, 2020, 10:39 am Post Office chief's £3.7m BONANZA: Gargantuan pay packet - scrabb December 21, 2020, 9:21 pm   Searching