By Dame Priti Patel, Former Home Secretary
ANYONE watching Mr Bates vs The Post Office will be outraged by the Post Office’s incompetent and callous actions.
As the daughter of a former sub-postmaster, growing up helping in the family shop, I know how hard the victims worked to build up their business.
But these pillars of the community were bullied and betrayed by the Post Office, courts and successive Labour and Lib Dem ministers.
One of my constituents had his concerns about the Horizon system ignored by the Post Office.
Instead of listening, they terminated his contract and ruined his reputation.
He lost his business, incurred losses of more than £100,000 and his marriage broke down.
One of thousands of innocent lives shattered.
The Post Office also covered up their own wrongdoing and conspired to hide the truth about Horizon’s problems.
Concerns raised by MPs, myself included, were ignored, with deceitful responses given.
Even now, with convictions being overturned, some compensation paid and a public inquiry, evidence is being withheld.
None of the Post Office executives responsible have been punished or shown remorse.
In fact, they took fat cat pay cheques and moved on to senior roles in other organisations.
Paula Vennells was made a CBE.
All powers necessary should be used so they face justice, while Alan Bates and the heroes who fought courageously and won should be honoured.
