Lee Anderson calls on Ed Davey to resign over PO scandal

       A former Cabinet minister has demanded that Sir Keir Starmer's role in the Post Office scandal is investigated by the Ministry of Justice.

       David Jones, a Conservative former Brexit minister, called for a review in the decisions made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the prosecutions of sub-postmasters.

       Most of the 900 cases were brought in private prosecutions by the Post Office but 11 have been identified as coming from the CPS including three when Sir Keir was Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and in charge.

       Others have pointed out that the DPP has the power to intervene without any need for referal in private cases but Sir Keir did not use this power.

       Speaking to Express.co.uk, Mr Jones said: "For part of that period Starmer was in charge and we need to know how involved he was in the decisions to prosecute because as DPP he should have been."

       Stay up-to-date with the latest Politics news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

       READ MORE: Post Office to Savile - Five legal cases show Starmer will be a disastrous PM

       David Jones believes Starmer has questions to answer (Image: Getty)

       Earlier in the House, Mr Jones praised the Government's decision to bring forward a Bill to exhonerate all those caught up in the prosecutions.

       More than 200 former sub-postmasters were sent to prison because of a fault in the Horison softwware being used by the Post Office which created thousands of pounds worth in shortfalls on their takings.

       At least four suicides have been linked to the scandal which has seen the former chief executive Paula Vennells being forced to hand back her CBE.

       Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey to quit as party leader and hand back his knighthood over his failures to take the issue seriously when he was minister for the post office in 2012.

       Mr Jones told the Commons: "The Government have made exactly the correct decision, given the balance of mischief."

       Don't miss...

       An Ed Davey-sized hole on Commons benches at PMQs is bad news for the Lib Dems [INSIGHT]

       Everything you need to know about Keir Starmer's election guru Morgan McSweeney [REVEAL]

       Davey and Vennells told to hand earnings to victims of Post Office scandal [REACT]

       Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading

       Start 30-day

       FREE trial

       Ed Davey is also under pressure (Image: Getty)

       He went on: "Can [the post office minister Kevin Hollinrake] say whether the convictions to be quashed under the process he has announced today will include not only those prosecuted by the Post Office itself but those prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service?

       "On the latter, will the Ministry of Justice review the decision-making process prior to the decision to prosecute?"

       Mr Hollinrake confirmed all convictions including those prosecuted by the CPS will be overturned.

       He went on: "The answer to my right honourable Friend’s question is yes, and it is only right that we look at what happened.

       "As I say, the Lord Chancellor (Alex Chalk) is looking at the whole issue of private prosecutions and how those cases were put together and prosecuted."

       Trending

       But Labour have disputed whether Sir Keir has questions to answer on this issue.

       A spokesman said: "During Keir's time as Chief Prosecutor no cases relating to Horizon were brought to his desk.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Ed Davey told to resign over Post Office scandal after demanding 12 others quit

       468 Comments

       Nigel Farage slams Ed Davey for 'gross error of judgement' over Post Office furore

       17 Comments

       Who is Morgan McSweeney? Keir Starmer's election guru you've never heard of

       17 Comments

       SNP's attack on Government over Post Office scandal blown apart by one simple fact

       111 Comments

       Sunak backs calls to strip ex-post office chief's CBE over horizon scandal

       9 Comments

       Lee Anderson tells Ed Davey to 'clear off' over Post Office row in brutal PMQs attack

       717 Comments

       Nigel Farage pinpoints 'real facts' over Keir Starmer's inaction on Post Office scandal

       292 Comments

       Pollster pinpoints where Nigel Farage's Reform UK will do 'most damage' to Rishi Sunak

       276 Comments

       BBC accused of showing 'no intellectual appetite' to dramatise Post Office scandal

       100 Comments

       Ed Davey and Paula Vennells told to hand earnings to victims over Post Office scandal

       54 Comments

       PMQs: An Ed Davey-sized hole on the Commons benches is very bad news for the Lib Dems

       140 Comments

       'Here's the truth of it': Nigel Farage makes dire Labour general election prediction

       1432 Comments

       Rishi Sunak confirms Post Office prosecutions under review after scandal

       517 Comments

       Ed Davey's credibility 'hanging by thread' with MPs furious at role in Post Office scandal

       914 Comments

       Starmer's right-hand man slammed for ‘forgetting' his involvement in Post Office scandal

       1729 Comments

       Ed Davey and the Post Office scandal prove Nigel Farage must finish the Brexit revolution

       2472 Comments

       Nigel Farage slaps down Alastair Campbell in heated row over Keir Starmer and Post Office

       1150 Comments

       Ministers scramble to speed up overturning Post Office Horizon convictions

       29 Comments

       POLL: Should Ed Davey hand back his knighthood?

       90 Comments

       Nigel Farage demands Keir Starmer comes clean over role in Post Office scandal failures

       2618 Comments

       Ed Davey told to resign over Post Office scandal after demanding 12 others quit

       468 Comments

       Nigel Farage slams Ed Davey for 'gross error of judgement' over Post Office furore

       17 Comments

       Who is Morgan McSweeney? Keir Starmer's election guru you've never heard of

       17 Comments

       SNP's attack on Government over Post Office scandal blown apart by one simple fact

       111 Comments

       Sunak backs calls to strip ex-post office chief's CBE over horizon scandal

       9 Comments

       Lee Anderson tells Ed Davey to 'clear off' over Post Office row in brutal PMQs attack

       717 Comments

       Nigel Farage pinpoints 'real facts' over Keir Starmer's inaction on Post Office scandal

       292 Comments

       Pollster pinpoints where Nigel Farage's Reform UK will do 'most damage' to Rishi Sunak

       276 Comments

       BBC accused of showing 'no intellectual appetite' to dramatise Post Office scandal

       100 Comments

       Ed Davey and Paula Vennells told to hand earnings to victims over Post Office scandal

       54 Comments

       PMQs: An Ed Davey-sized hole on the Commons benches is very bad news for the Lib Dems

       140 Comments

       'Here's the truth of it': Nigel Farage makes dire Labour general election prediction

       1432 Comments

       Rishi Sunak confirms Post Office prosecutions under review after scandal

       517 Comments

       Ed Davey's credibility 'hanging by thread' with MPs furious at role in Post Office scandal

       914 Comments

       Starmer's right-hand man slammed for ‘forgetting' his involvement in Post Office scandal

       1729 Comments

       Ed Davey and the Post Office scandal prove Nigel Farage must finish the Brexit revolution

       2472 Comments

       Nigel Farage slaps down Alastair Campbell in heated row over Keir Starmer and Post Office

       1150 Comments

       Ministers scramble to speed up overturning Post Office Horizon convictions

       29 Comments

       POLL: Should Ed Davey hand back his knighthood?

       90 Comments

       Nigel Farage demands Keir Starmer comes clean over role in Post Office scandal failures

       2618 Comments

       Ed Davey told to resign over Post Office scandal after demanding 12 others quit

       468 Comments

       Nigel Farage slams Ed Davey for 'gross error of judgement' over Post Office furore

       17 Comments

       Who is Morgan McSweeney? Keir Starmer's election guru you've never heard of

       17 Comments

       SNP's attack on Government over Post Office scandal blown apart by one simple fact

       111 Comments

       Sunak backs calls to strip ex-post office chief's CBE over horizon scandal

       9 Comments

       Lee Anderson tells Ed Davey to 'clear off' over Post Office row in brutal PMQs attack

       717 Comments

       Nigel Farage pinpoints 'real facts' over Keir Starmer's inaction on Post Office scandal

       292 Comments

       "The scandal that's emerged is one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history and Labour has been calling for swift exoneration and compensation for the victims.

       "It's vital that all action is taken to right these wrongs. Labour's focus is on playing our part in making sure this injustice is never repeated.”

       Three cases (two in 2009 and one in 2012) out of the 11 identified by the CPS were during Starmer's tenure.

       Related articles Tory civil war reignites as One Nation MP tears into right-wing colleagues Royal Navy smashes Iran-backed rebels' 'worst-ever' Red Sea attack Labour and Lib Dems must answer 'three key questions' over Post Office scandal Commons uproar as Lee Anderson tells Ed Davey to 'clear off' in brutal PMQs row Keir Starmer sparks ‘dog whistle’ PMQs race row with Rishi Sunak jibe