Chris Mason: Justice at last, but plenty more questions remain

The ITV drama on the Post Office scandal, which had just finished a week ago, had a profound impact on the political landscape. The government’s sudden intervention in the independent decisions of the courts, following the public outcry, is almost unprecedented. The Post Office scandal, which involved a national institution, three political parties, and the Japanese technology company Fujitsu, among others, had left many people feeling let down for years.

The public’s demand for justice, fueled by the TV drama, prompted sharp questions from families during the holiday season. One cabinet minister admitted that watching the series with their family had prompted them to seek answers. The breadth of questions and the number of people facing them is significant.

Former ministers from various political parties, including Sir Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats and Sir Keir Starmer of Labour, have been questioned about their roles during the scandal. Sir Keir, who was the Director of Public Prosecutions during the relevant period, has faced particular scrutiny due to the Crown Prosecution Service’s minimal involvement in the private prosecutions brought by the Post Office.

The CPS oversaw four million cases during Sir Keir’s tenure, and the Post Office brought three cases against those who ran post offices during that time. Labour maintains that these cases were never brought to Sir Keir’s attention. Campaigners argue that multiple governments failed to address the issue, as did the Post Office and Fujitsu.

The Post Office scandal has far-reaching implications, and the questions for those in prominent political positions are just the beginning. The full extent of the miscarriage of justice and the number of people affected is still being uncovered.

The Post Office paid Fujitsu £95m to extend the Horizon IT system, which is still causing errors and is behind schedule for replacement at a significant cost. Post Office victims in Scotland are being cleared, and the Prime Minister has expressed support for a campaigner’s knighthood. The impact of the scandal on Scotland and the efforts to exonerate victims are also being addressed.

Alan McLaughlin, a man whose Post Office conviction was quashed, has called for more action to help those affected by the scandal. The Post Office did everything to prevent justice, and the full truth of the matter is still emerging. The public’s demand for accountability and justice continues to grow.