logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
37m 24s

The Post Office Scandal: who’s to blame ...

GLOBAL
About this episode

Why are more than 700 postmasters still trying to clear their names and access even the most basic compensation more than two decades after they were falsely accused of theft?

On today's episode Adeep Sethi tells us how his family warned the Post Office in 2002 about Horizon's problems - he has the proof in a newspaper article. Twenty two years on, and torn apart, they are still fighting for justice.

We ask Tory MP and campaigner David Davis whether British justice has failed.

A spokesperson for Fujitsu - who rolled out the Horizon system - said: "Fujitsu has apologised for its role in their suffering. Fujitsu is fully committed to supporting the Post Office Horizon IT statutory Inquiry in order to understand what happened and to learn from it. Out of respect for the Inquiry process, it would be inappropriate for Fujitsu to comment further at this time.”

And how did Helen Harrison - partner of disgraced Tory MP Peter Bone - get selected as the candidate for his newly vacated seat of Wellingborough? It's a News Agents mystery.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Up next
Aug 22
Q&A: Trump, Putin and 100% inheritance tax
Does Putin have something on Trump? Is Trump deliberately deflecting attention from the Epstein saga? Is Starmer's advisor, Morgan McSweeney, overestimated by the media? And what response has Lewis had to his 100% inheritance tax theory...?This Friday, Lewis and Jon answer your q ... Show More
34m 25s
Aug 22
SPECIAL REPORT: Gabby goes behind the scenes with the Red Roses - The Sports Agents
As part of a special weekend edition of The Sports Agents - Gabby's been at Twickenham - the home of England rugby - to speak to key members of England's Red Roses squad ahead of the start of the Women's Rugby World Cup! Over 375,000 tickets have already sold for a 32-match home ... Show More
35m 42s
Aug 20
Where are asylum seekers supposed to live now?
Anti-migrant protesters are celebrating today, with The Bell Hotel in Epping set to close its doors to asylum seekers after becoming a battleground over the summer on the issue.A High Court ruling ordered The Bell to stop housing migrants on a planning technicality. It did not re ... Show More
33m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
'Why did we have to wait for a TV drama?': Post Office convictions quashed
Rishi Sunak's promised a new law to exonerate and compensate Post Office branch managers who were wrongly prosecuted in the Horizon IT scandal. But those seeking payouts will have to sign a statement of truth to say they didn't commit the crimes they were accused of. Lee Castleto ... Show More
22m 36s
Feb 2024
The Post Office scandal - more trouble on the Horizon?
The former chair of the Post Office, Henry Staunton, who was dismissed last month, claims he was told by a top civil servant to "hobble into the election" and delay payouts to sub-postmasters, in a newly released memo. But Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch told MPs there's "no evi ... Show More
22m 46s
Apr 2024
Fighting the Post Office: Alan Bates at the inquiry
Alan Bates, the campaigner who took on the Post Office to expose flaws in its IT systems which led to wrongful convictions, has appeared before the public inquiry into the scandal. Can this crucial stage of the inquiry take the victims a step closer to justice?This podcast was br ... Show More
30m 22s
Jan 2024
Mr Bates Vs the Post Office – what Fujitsu told MPs
The man who has led fellow former sub postmasters in their campaign to overturn wrongful convictions, Alan Bates, was among those giving evidence to MPs today. The bosses of the Post Office and Fujitsu also faced the committee for the first time with the Post Office chief executi ... Show More
18m 56s
Feb 2024
The Post Office scandal - more trouble on the Horizon?
The former chair of the Post Office, Henry Staunton, who was dismissed last month, claims he was told by a top civil servant to "hobble into the election" and delay payouts to sub-postmasters, in a newly released memo. But Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch told MPs there's "no evi ... Show More
24m 19s
Feb 2024
How Do You Fix the UK's Housing Crisis?
The Conservatives first promised to end the right of landlords to evict tenants without a reason in 2019.Now, five years later, the Housing Secretary reveals on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that it’ll become law in time for this year’s election. Paddy has been speaking to Post Of ... Show More
29m 18s
Apr 2024
Investigation: The Tory MP who allegedly demanded campaign cash to pay ‘bad people’
The call came in the dead of night. “Are you on your own?” the man said. “I’ve got in with some bad people and they’ve locked me in a flat and they want £5,000 to release me.” The caller was Mark Menzies, the Conservative MP for Fylde in Lancashire. The Times investigation reveal ... Show More
23m 7s
Sep 2023
End of the UK-China 'Golden Era'?: George Osborne Interview
Questions continue following the arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for China. The man, who has not been charged, has today insisted that he is ‘completely innocent’.We are joined by George Osborne to discuss how the government should engage with Beijing. ... Show More
35m 36s
Apr 2024
Tory MP suspended | What's going on with climate targets?
Conservative MP Mark Menzies has been suspended from the parliamentary party in light of allegations he abused local Tory party funds to pay off "bad people".    Mark Menzies strongly disputes the claims which also allege he used campaign funds to pay his personal medical bills. ... Show More
20m 30s
Aug 2023
Could a reshuffle revitalise Sunak’s government?
It’s almost time to wave goodbye to the summer, but is Rishi Sunak also poised to bid farewell to some of his ministers? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Stephen Bush and political editor George Parker to discuss a cabinet shake up. Plus, the FT’s US p ... Show More
35m 52s