Mr Bates vs the Post Office

[towny44]

What Ed Davey did or didn’t say will no doubt come out in due course, but the best thing that could happen for the Liberal Democrats would be if he resigned anyway.

Our present political system is awash with cover-ups and back-handers.

I know you want to change our system OL, and replace our inept and corrupt politicians with honest citizens who presumably know all about the depts they are destined to manage. But how will you decide who are best suited to undertake these roles.
It appears to me that the candidates who would mostly fit your characteristics are likely to be civil servants who have worked in govt depts. HOWEVER they have probably been responsible for most of the poor decisions that the current crop of reprobates (your view but maybe not mine) have brought before parliament over the past few decades.
So who do we consider instead, most top executives are paid far more than any politician, and quite a lot don't appear to measure up to necessary standards you require anyway.
Just as we keep asking Sir Kier to put forward a sensibly costed agenda for achieving all he promises, I think we should be asking you where you intend to find enough honest, intelligent, dedicated and knowledgable people who are stupid enough to give up well paid jobs and attempt to improve on the current bunch.

[Onelife]

A valid question John, I don’t pretend it would be an easy turn around but I do believe most MP’s join their respective political parties with good intentions. I have no doubt many do a fantastic job representing their constituents and could, when called upon, use theses learned skills in higher positions within government. Unfurtunatly the political system at present has a toxic culture where even the best-intentioned politicians get draw into the web of party tribalism, tribalism which as we have witnessed over recent years is the catalyst for unproductive political decision making. When I read some posts on this forum it appears that it is easier to accept the political status quo rather than look for a more robust political platform on which to build from. It is my belief that the current disillusionment will continue no matter who is in power and will until such time that continue until we address the deep-rooted issues that lie within. I have already spoken about my political system preference so I won’t go over that again, other than to say, there is a growing number who believe our present system is broken beyond repair.

As to the question asked…. I do believe there are many within our present system that could, and would be happy to work within a new political approach.

[Mervyn and Trish]

How did a debate on the post office scandal turn into yet another rerun of Onelife's revolutionary republican plan?

[towny44]

How did a debate on the post office scandal turn into yet another rerun of Onelife's revolutionary republican plan?

Sorry!!! My fault for responding to one of his throwaway annoying remarks.

[oldbluefox]

If OL's revolutionary alternative government is to become a reality, along with his Republican ideals then I hope he is not looking to the likes of the current opposition parties in the light of the Post Office scandal.
For years they have all stood by and done nothing to redress this situation but now, a a consequence of the ITV programme they are all jumping on the bandwagon saying the matter should be resolved quickly abd how these people should be recompensed. Suddenly they all know what should happen but where have they all been all these years? Why have they all sat back and said nothing until now and suddenly they all want a share of the limelight. What a load of hypocrites!! The only party who have not raised much of a hue and cry are the Lib Dems. I cannot imagine why...........

[paultheagle]

Your right ObF, a TV drama and a General Election year have made all the difference. The BBC did a programme in 2019 (I think) saying exactly what they are saying now and nothing happened. Promises, promises of compensation mean nothing until the post masters get their cheque and convictions quashed. I wonder how long that will take?

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think the big difference then and now is the BBC programme was Panorama. a serious current affairs programme. What ITV has done by making it into a peak time drama is probably engage and energise a larger audience and with the PR around it make it impossible to dodge. But I agree Paul. We need to see action, not just words now. And some heads rolling.

[Ray Scully]

Its incredible the traction this programme got. No doubt many found a relationship with how the powerful and big business were controlling their lives

[Stephen]

In my view the post office is in need of a major overhaul.

A law unto themselves, rubbish service along with extortionate pricing.

[paultheagle]

Amazingly the Post Office are still using Horizon. I wonder whether these shortages are still happening and if they are how do management deal with them?

Who is responsible for giving Paula Vennells her CBE in 2019?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Blue Peter?

[Mervyn and Trish]

BBC News - Tony Blair was warned Horizon IT system could be flawed, documents show
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67941495

[Onelife]

BBC News - Tony Blair was warned Horizon IT system could be flawed, documents show
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67941495

At the end of the day those affected were only post-office workers…upholding the reputation of the politicians remains paramount…isn’t that how politics works?

[Mervyn and Trish]

The small Post Office in our village was shut down in 2003. Everybody knew that the ' Computer ' was taken away because it was faulty and that we no longer had our Postmistress but we had all assumed that it was a one off. Our Postmistress's health subsequently deteriorated and her marriage broke up, she had also lost her family home. Until recently nobody realised the probable cause and that this shocking story was being replicated throughout the Country.

So sad .... even sadder perhaps is that Ed Davey, Lib Dem Minister for the Post Office reportedly dismissed Mr Bates's concerns in 2010 as being unfounded. Had he had the balls to tackle the issue head on at that time the resultant delays and disgrace may not have been so grave.

To be fair to Ed Davey, problems with Horizon were first reported in 2000 and hundreds of sub postmaster were prosecuted in the next few years, when Labour were in government. Davey failed to sort it out but he wasn't the first.

Possibly so but I thought, mistakenly perhaps, that he was the first Minister of the Postal Service.

I meant to answer this earlier but forgot. He was actually the ninth. The first eight, while this scandal was steadily brewing, were all Labour.

[Mervyn and Trish]

BBC News - Tony Blair was warned Horizon IT system could be flawed, documents show
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67941495

At the end of the day those affected were only post-office workers…upholding the reputation of the politicians remains paramount…isn’t that how politics works?

I think in this case it was clearly a case of upholding the reputation of the Post Office and Fujitsu. I hope the latter will now be forced to stump up for the compensation payments, rather than the British taxpayer.

[david63]

At the end of the day those affected were only post-office workers

That is not true - those affected were self employed and were not employed by the Post Office.

[Stephen]

As much as I too would like to see it happen, I very much doubt it will.

Post Office scandal: Minister says he wants to see those responsible jailed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67962473

[david63]

As much as I too would like to see it happen, I very much doubt it will.

Post Office scandal: Minister says he wants to see those responsible jailed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67962473

It might as there is certainly the will, but if not at least ruin their lives in the same way that they ruined the lives of others.

[Onelife]

At the end of the day those affected were only post-office workers

That is not true - those affected were self employed and were not employed by the Post Office.

Oh' yes it is...

I was using “only Post office workers” metaphorically which I believe gives credence to how those above treated them.

[david63]

At the end of the day those affected were only post-office workers

That is not true - those affected were self employed and were not employed by the Post Office.

Oh' yes it is...

I was using “only Post office workers” metaphorically which I believe gives credence to how those above treated them.

Sorry OL not matter how you want to twist that statement those affected were not and never have been Post Office employees. This I know from first hand experience from more than one perspective.

[Manoverboard]

... said Postman Pat63

[Manoverboard]

I meant to answer this earlier but forgot. He was actually the ninth. The first eight, while this scandal was steadily brewing, were all Labour.

They obviously made little impact as far as I was concerned then

[Stephen]

... said Postman Pat63