She’s handing back her CBE, but now what? (Credits: EPA)
Ex-Post Office Chief Paula Vennells choice to return her OBE, following a petition that gained over a million signatures.
However, one reader thinks as punishments go, it doesn’t really go far enough given the gravity of the scandal and the pain caused to victims. What do you think?
Meanwhile, why did so few younger people vote Brexit? One reader claims it’s because schools told them otherwise…
Read on to see what readers think about this issue, among others.
Making sure the Post Office scandal is never forgotten
Finally, a weak and embattled government has woken up to the Post Office scandal.
Even our prime minister – usually so steadfast in defence of the rich and powerful against the ‘little people’ – thinks something must be done (primarily to save his own skin, one suspects).
It’s a little late. For the best part of a decade, investigative journalists have been uncovering the Post Office’s single-minded pursuit of its innocent sub-postmasters and mistresses.
The bullying, hypocrisy and deceit are hard to swallow but, until the ITV drama was broadcast, were all too easy for PMs and ministers to ignore.
Former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells agreeing to calls to hand back her CBE was necessary, but it’s just a gesture.
The Post Office must immediately be stripped of its powers of prosecution.
There is a strong argument for removing its licence to operate and reunifying it with a state-owned but independently overseen Royal Mail.
There needs to be criminal investigation of all the Post Office managers, IT suppliers, lawyers, politicians, union bosses and others who knowingly or negligently allowed this travesty of justice to occur. Stephen Spark, Balham
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Making sure this miscarriage of justice is never forgotten
Further to the Post Office scandal, may I suggest the Royal Mail issues a first-class stamp with a picture of Mr Bates on it?
This is Alan Bates, the man depicted by Toby Jones in the ITV drama that highlighted the miscarriage of justice in which hundreds of his sub-postmaster and sub post-mistress colleagues were wrongly convicted of fraud or theft.
I am sure this will bring comfort to many postal staff and remind them they are not alone. Seeing the stamp might also prick the consciences of those who inflicted the trauma of the faulty Horizon software on staff and those who continue to withhold the compensation.
The stamp could remain in circulation for however many years it takes to secure justice and bring closure. Currently, that is a quarter of a century and counting. Lorna Dixon, Mitcham
Think of how many more injustices that could be brought to attention of the government via documentary drama (Credits: ITV/Shutterstock)
Why did the government take so long to act?
I gave up thinking the honours system in this country was worth anything when Gavin Williamson was given a knighthood for services to education. Mark, Crystal Palace (Retired Teacher Of 31 Years)
So this is how our government works now? Do nothing for years, then when an embarrassing TV drama-documentary airs, pretend you care and are taking urgent action. Not very impressive, is it? Alan, Watford
Is the scandal exemplary of targeting front-line staff culture at the Post Office? (Credits: PA)
Vennells is an ordained Anglican priest. She knows the way forward is repentance and a new start. It’s the centre of our faith. Mark, Chertsey
Paula Vennells is a perfect example of a member of a clique of senior executives who ride a blessed merry-go-round and, despite regularly leaving chaos in their wake, just move into another plum job.
The magnitude of her sins will of course finish her career, but most know that accountability is rare indeed.
This farrago of bullying and incompetence at board level must stop. Robert Boston, Kent
The problem was way more than software errors.
The Post Office promotes a culture that targets vulnerable front-line staff.
Management used the false accounting discrepancies created by Horizon as an excuse to dismiss staff.
The Communication Workers Union reps didn’t do a good job of protecting their colleagues.
Fine workers, who worked all their life serving the community, were shown the door. Why are the auditors – both internal and external – not being questioned ? Justice for all victims. Manasa, via email
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After watching the shocking TV drama, I truly hope the people at the top of the Post Office at that time are seriously shaking in their cosy boots.
The disgusting, cruel and heartless way those sub-postmasters and sub post-mistresses were treated was eye-opening.
It takes a TV programme to expose these greedy maggots at the top. How they sleep at night is beyond me.
The only person worthy of a gong is the magnificent Alan Bates. Arise, Sir Alan. Steve H, Sutton
The NHS won’t survive without proper managers – and why so few younger people voted for Brexit
Were young kids taught to want to remain in the EU at school? (Credits: Getty Images)
I read B Butterfield (MetroTalk, Mon) with interest when they said public services should be brought back into public ownership.
Their argument, in part, was they had an acquaintance whose company provided IT support to the NHS and in their words ‘my company is ripping off the NHS left right and centre’.
There are many more examples of ‘ripping off the NHS’.
This will continue to happen until the NHS is run as a business by business people.
There are many skilled clinical managers and administration staff in the NHS who stay because they care about patients but, with the greatest respect, they are not experienced in running multimillion-pound businesses.
We are so fortunate to have free healthcare in this country, but I fear it will not survive without proper management at the highest level. P Cooke, Swindon
Barrie Barton (MetroTalk, Mon) rightly states it was mostly the older generation who voted to leave the EU.
That’s because the younger generation have been taught to loathe their own country and reject the concept of British identity by the neo-liberals who have hijacked our schools, colleges and universities.
Had they received a proper education instead of a state-sponsored indoctrination, then they too would have had the sense to vote Leave. Robert Kay, Leeds
MORE : Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells will hand back her CBE over Horizon scandal
MORE : Writer of Post Office scandal TV drama reveals ‘astounded’ reaction
MORE : Susanna Reid squares up to minister while putting government to shame over Post Office scandal
Readers discuss whether giving back a CBE is being held accountable.
