用户名/邮箱
登录密码
验证码
看不清?换一张
您好,欢迎访问! [ 登录 | 注册 ]
您的位置:首页 - 最新资讯
Minister hints at new law to quash all 800 Horizon scandal convictions at once
2024-01-11 00:00:00.0     独立报-英国新闻     原网页

       

       Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       View from Westminster email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       Rishi Sunak is actively considering an emergency bill to quash all 800 Horizon scandal convictions at once, the justice secretary has revealed.

       Mr Sunak’s ministers are in crunch talks on the best way to clear the names of hundreds of Post Office subpostmasters who were wrongfully convicted.

       Justice secretary Alex Chalk told MPs that the government was giving “active consideration” to legislation to overturn the convictions.

       It comes as former Post Office boss Paula Vennells announced that she would hand back her CBE following the fallout of the scandal.

       She said she was “truly sorry for the devastation caused” to staff and their families, and would be returning the top honour immediately having listened to calls from campaigners.

       RECOMMENDED

       Trump’s alleged ‘sexual proclivities’ graphically detailed in new Epstein documents

       Pope’s new doctrine chief in hot water over unearthed orgasm book

       Buying Nvidia in 2024? Wall Street Legend Issues Urgent A.I. Stock WarningChaikin Analytics | Sponsored Sponsored

       Nеurоpathy Breakthrough: Experts SpeechlessHealth Insight Journal | Sponsored Sponsored

       CCPA Notice

       In the Commons, former Tory cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi urged Mr Sunak’s government to bring forward a “simple bill to quash all 800” convictions immediately.

       Promoted stories

       This NEW Scarf Quickly Becomes Celeb's Most Wanted Item 2024FashionInUSA Learn More

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Mr Chalk said Mr Zahawi’s suggestion was “receiving active consideration”, before adding: “I expect to be able to make further announcements shortly,” he added.

       Ministers intend to move “very quickly” to resolve the issue, the justice secretary said, after the miscarriage of justice was thrust into the spotlight by the recent ITV drama.

       Justice secretary Alex Chalk is in talks with members of the judiciary about the Horizon scandal

       " srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/09/09/af3b2383e127a0e3d857af460e3d34f9Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzA0ODc2MTQ1-2.74687436.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/09/09/af3b2383e127a0e3d857af460e3d34f9Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzA0ODc2MTQ1-2.74687436.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/09/09/af3b2383e127a0e3d857af460e3d34f9Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzA0ODc2MTQ1-2.74687436.jpg" data-gallery-length="3" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content">

       Justice secretary Alex Chalk is in talks with members of the judiciary about the Horizon scandal

       (PA Wire)

       It could see hundreds of former branch managers exonerated in one go – something both Tory MPs and Labour are pushing the government to do.

       Ex-Tory justice secretary Robert Buckland has called for “exceptional” legislation to deal with all the cases together – saying MPs “can and should act” now to pass law because “we can’t wait anymore”.

       Mr Chalk told Mr Buckland that he agreed that the scandal was “truly exceptional” – calling it “the most serious miscarriage of justice since the Guildford Four and the Birmingham Six”.

       Hinting that the government could back the legislation that Mr Buckland and others are calling for, the justice secretary said “it will need an appropriate resolution”. However, Mr Chalk also said the government would only introduce legislation if it had “exhausted all alternatives before taking radical action”.

       MPs have called for Fujitsu – the firm behind the faulty Horizon accounting software that made it look as if money was missing from shops – to pay for compensating wronged Post Office staff.

       No 10 said on Tuesday that Fujitsu will be “held accountable”, legally or financially, if the ongoing public inquiry finds it blundered in the Horizon scandal.

       But the PM’s spokesman did not say the government would stop awarding contracts to the company if it was found to be at fault – saying only that companies’ conduct was “in general” would be considered as part of the procurement process.

       The scale of the government’s involvement with Fujitsu is significant. Since 2012, the public sector as a whole has awarded the company almost 200 contracts worth a combined total of £6.8 billion, according to analysts Tussell.

       A petition calling for the former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to lose her CBE received more than 1 million signatures

       (Teri Pengilley for The Independent)

       Mr Sunak’s ministers are looking at changing the rules around private prosecutions by the Post Office and other companies, work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said earlier.

       It comes amid calls including from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to strip prosecution powers from the Post Office.

       Meanwhile, Dominic Grieve, former Tory attorney general, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that emergency legislation was “not a particularly commendable approach” – warning that it may not “get rid of convictions”.

       Prof Graham Zellick KC, ex-chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, said his former body “could do this job very quickly” rather than have MPs overrule the judicial system.

       It comes as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, under pressure over his role in the Horizon scandal as postal affairs minister between 2010 and 2012, hit back at his critics.

       Sir Ed lashed out at “the people in the Post Office who were perpetrating this conspiracy of lies” in an interview with The Guardian.

       RECOMMENDED

       Mother of family at centre of puddle splash police probe says child left ill for days

       Trump attorney says president can’t be prosecuted for ordering murders

       Man adopts a girl nobody wants, 28 years later she does this behind his backSoolide | Sponsored Sponsored

       Plastic Surgeon: A Youthful Neck After 50 Comes Down To This Daily HabitBeverly Hills MD | Sponsored Sponsored

       The Lib Dem leader also fired back at the Tories, questioning why the government had sanctioned the CBE award for Ms Vennells. “They knew all about this,” he said. “I’d like to know who signed it off. It was a bizarre decision.”

       Reports suggest that 50 new potential victims have approached lawyers since ITV’s Mr Bates Vs The Post Office was broadcast. The Post Office is wholly owned by the government.

       More about Rishi Sunak Post Office Horizon Alex Chalk Labour

       Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

       8Comments

       1/ 3Minister hints at new law to quash all 800 Horizon scandal convictions

       Minister hints at new law to quash all 800 Horizon scandal convictions

       Justice secretary Alex Chalk is in talks with members of the judiciary about the Horizon scandal

       PA Wire

       Minister hints at new law to quash all 800 Horizon scandal convictions

       A petition calling for the former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to lose her CBE received more than 1 million signatures

       Teri Pengilley for The Independent

       Minister hints at new law to quash all 800 Horizon scandal convictions

       Sunak comes under pressure as Post Office scandal makes headlines again

       PA / PA Archive

       CCPA Notice Promoted stories

       WellnessGuide

       Diabetes Is Not From Sweets! Meet The Number One EnemyTop Surgeon: Anyone With Blood Sugar Over 100 Should Try ThisWellnessGuide| Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn more

       Undo

       Healthy Guru

       Cardiologist Share Morning Tip for Quick Weight LossTry it nowHealthy Guru| Sponsored Sponsored

       Watch Now

       Undo

       Gundry MD

       Heart Surgeon: If You Eat Avocado Everyday, This Is What HappensIn this free informative presentation, Dr. Gundry shares a powerful tip to slimming down.Gundry MD| Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Read More Comments

       Collapse Comments

       ? Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in

       


标签:综合
关键词: Westminster email     Office     government     scandal     Horizon     justice     Sponsored     convictions    
滚动新闻