Post Office - Horizon scandal

[Hobbit]

Yesterday saw 3 witnesses giving evidence to the Inquiry. Jonathan Reynolds, the current minister for business. Kemi Badenoch, the previous business minister. And Patterson, Fujitsu CEO Europe.

I’ve only dipped in and out of the day’s proceedings.

Jonathan Reynolds - he’s nowhere near up to speed yet, and interviewing was almost pointless. Said all the right things but there’s no urgency in govt pushing things forward. Best example of this was a question asked by Sam Stein KC, “have you met with the Head of Fujitsu yet?” “No.” “Would you like to?” “Yes.” “He’s due in to give evidence later today. Perhaps you could meet him then to arrange something?” “That’s a good idea.” … a poor performance.

Kemi Badenoch - it was everybody else’s fault. The Civill Servants were poor and obstructive. The Treasury wouldn’t release money. The PO board were secretive and the non-executive directors ineffectual. Having read a number of biographies about past PM’s and chancellors, you could drive a horse and cart through her waffle.

Patterson - can’t guarantee Horizon is stable now. Is worried that the PO won’t have a replacement system in place by the end of the current contract and has to trigger the 5 year extension. Won’t commit to paying compensation till the Inquiry is finished, even though compensation is already being paid out. Short answer - he wants nothing to do with Horizon now, and will only provide tech support for faults. Will not interrogate Horizon to aid PO with the current prosecutions.

 

[Hobbit]

The last 2 days has seen 2 witnesses before the Inquiry. They both gave evidence at the same time, sat together. Dame Sandra Dawson & Dr Katy Steward, Governance Experts. Both are leading academics, perhaps the very top of the tree, and tasked by the Inquiry to carry out a complete review of the Post Office’s institutional behaviours in relation to how the scandal evolved. The review was pretty much at a forensic level and very much unbiased. Where a question from the barristers and Core Participant’s legal teams was a leading question the two ladies weren’t shy in disagreeing with the premise. Equally, where an answer would paint the PO in a bad light, they weren’t shy in saying so.

Two very intelligent ladies, and who even made the barristers look very ordinary.

That concludes the evidence scheduled to be given in person by witnesses. There now follows a couple of days, off camera, in which witness statements from those not called to appear and additional statements from those that appeared will be read into evidence. One to watch out for is from Gareth Jenkins.

There’s also a legal submission due in from the Post Office’s barristers. Do they still feel the need for the final word? Surely their attempt to recuse Justice Fraser taught them something? Maybe it’s nothing - we’ll see…

Following that there will be closing statements heard on the 16th & 17th Dec. Some will be from the Inquiry’s barristers, some from the Core Participants legal teams and some from the witness’s legal teams. Gareth Jenkin’s legal team has asked for, and been given, the opportunity for a longer closing statement because of issues surrounding his disjointed appearances at the Inquiry.

Below is the second session from the above witnesses. Very interesting, although a little quirky at times.