Moray MP Douglas Ross says former Post Office Chief Executive Paula Vennells has done the right thing by agreeing to hand back her CBE with immediate effect.
Douglas had called on her to do the “correct thing” during a statement on the scandal in the House of Commons last night (Monday) after over a million people had signed a petition calling for her honour to be stripped.
UK Government minister Kevin Hollinrake updated MPs – including Douglas – on plans to deliver justice to hundreds of sub-postmasters who were wrongly accused of crimes such as theft, false accounting and embezzlement, when the blame truly lay with a faulty IT system called Horizon.
Douglas’ question to the minister also asked what can be done to ensure justice can be delivered UK-wide and what discussions have taken place between the Scottish and UK Government’s on the scandal, given that the Crown Office were responsible for prosecutions in Scotland.
In response, the minister said that he had had a meeting with Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk on Monday and he is sure that further such discussions will take place with relevant ministers across the United Kingdom.
Douglas added that he will continue to work closely with ministers in both the UK and Scottish Government’s to ensure “justice is finally delivered” and that tireless campaigner Alan Bates can finally accept the honour for his work on behalf of those who were convicted.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “This scandal is arguably the biggest miscarriage of justice ever seen in the country. Like millions of others, I was gripped by the ITV drama which has shed fresh light on how hundreds of sub-postmasters were wronged by the Post Office.
“Tragically some people took their own lives. Others have lost their homes and their livelihoods.
“The campaign by Alan Bates and other tireless former sub-postmasters has been nothing short of remarkable and has ensured we reached the point where we are today.
“I share their fury which is why I called for Paula Vennells to do the right thing and hand back her honour. I am pleased she has for once done the correct thing in this scandal and handed her CBE back. I hope this can now pave the way for Alan Bates to accept his OBE, or any further recognition he may get.
“This injustice has affected people right across the United Kingdom. Due to justice being devolved, people were prosecuted by the Crown Office in Scotland, rather than by the Post Office themselves which happened in England.
“That is why I was pleased that the minister is keen to carry out a UK-wide solution to deliver justice and discussions will be taking place among relevant ministers in both the Scottish and UK Government’s.
“I am keen to see justice delivered as quickly as possible for all those affected by this horrendous miscarriage of justice and the shocking actions of the Post Office. We need to see the wrongful convictions quashed and compensation paid as quickly as possible.”