Ed Davey says Post Office lied to him on an 'industrial scale'

       Andrew Neil has suggested Sir Ed Davey should resign as Liberal Democrat leader over the Post Office Horizon scandal.

       The Lib Dem politician has been facing intense scrutiny over his previous role as postal affairs minister with the major miscarriage of justice in the spotlight thanks to an ITV drama.

       Mr Neil pointed to analysis by The Times which showed Sir Ed had taken to Twitter/X to call for public figures to resign 31 times since becoming Lib Dem leader in April 2019.

       The veteran broadcaster suggested that Sir Ed "might look in the mirror for his 32nd".

       In a post on social media platform X, Mr Neil said: "Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has made regular calls for public figures to resign from major public posts — 31 such demands are on his Twitter/X account since April 2019.

       "Given what many see as his dereliction of duty in the sub-postmasters’ scandal he might look in the mirror for his 32nd. Just a thought."

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       Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 Post Office branch managers were given criminal convictions after faulty Fujitsu accounting software called Horizon made it appear as though money was missing from their shops.

       Sir Ed, who is facing increasing pressure about his ministerial role between 2010 and 2012 in the coalition government, has accused the Post Office of lying to him on an "industrial scale".

       He said yesterday: "I wish I had known then what we all know now, the Post Office was lying on an industrial scale to me and other ministers."

       He said it was "clear they were all lying to me" as he put the concerns of campaigning former subpostmaster Alan Bates to officials.

       Sir Ed added: "My heart goes out to all those people, we need to make sure their convictions are overturned and we need to make sure they are fairly compensated, and quickly."

       A Liberal Democrat spokesman said that Sir Ed did meet with postmasters and raise concerns whilst minister in charge of the Post Office.

       They added: “Ed completely understands the victims’ anger at this appalling miscarriage of justice, and in hindsight, he wishes he could have done more to help them.

       "His focus is now on getting justice and compensation as quickly as possible to all those affected.

       “Ed deeply regrets not realising that the Post Office was lying to him and other ministers on an industrial scale in what amounts to a conspiracy against the public.

       "He will fully cooperate with the inquiry and is keen to give his evidence as soon as possible to help get to the bottom of this scandal.”

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