Post Office latest news: Paula Vennells returning CBE 'obviously the right decision', says No10

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells handing back her CBE is “obviously the right decision”, Downing Street has said.

Asked about her decision, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We think that is obviously the right decision.

“Our focus continues to be on ensuring all those whose lives were torn apart have swifter access to compensation and justice.”

On Tuesday lunchtime, Ms Vennells said in a statement that she was “aware of the calls from subpostmasters and others to return my CBE”.

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 postmasters were prosecuted after faulty accounting software made it look like money was missing from their sites. Fewer than 100 convictions have been overturned to date.

06:05 PM GMT

That's all for this evening

Thank you for joining us on another dramatic day in Westminster in which Paula Vennells, the former Post Office boss, handed back her CBE.

Downing Street said she had made “the right decision” as the Horizon IT scandal continues to grow.

My colleague Jack Maidment will be back early tomorrow to guide you through the latest.

05:50 PM GMT

Sir Ed Davey will not hand back his knighthood

Sir Ed Davey’s spokesman has confirmed the Liberal Democrat leader will not hand back his knighthood over his role in the Horizon IT scandal.

“As Ed has said many times, he wishes he’d known then what we all know now,” the spokesman said.

“It’s right that [former Post Office boss Paula] Vennells gave back her CBE, she was at the centre of a conspiracy of lies against the victims, the public and ministers of all parties.

“As Alan Bates said yesterday, Ed was one of many ministers who was misled and lied to by the Post Office.”

05:35 PM GMT

The Post Office bosses who presided over biggest miscarriage of justice in legal history

The former bosses of the Post Office who presided over the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history are facing growing pressure over their role in the scandal.

Many went on to lucrative jobs or made millions as more than 900 postmasters were wrongly convicted for fraud, theft, and false accounting.

Only 93 convictions have been quashed over the scandal after faults with software known as Horizon made by Fujitsu made it look like money was missing.

These are some of the key figures linked to the scandal

05:23 PM GMT

Parents who refuse children gender change face seven years in jail in Scotland

Parents who refuse to allow their children to change gender would face up to seven years in jail under SNP plans to ban “conversion therapy”.

Proposals published today state that actions designed to “change or suppress” another individual’s gender identity, causing them physical or psychological harm, would become illegal under the radical law.

SNP ministers acknowledged that so-called conversion practices often took place in a “family setting”, raising the prospect that parents could be criminalised if they refuse to go along with their child’s declaration that they are transgender.

Stopping someone from “dressing in a way that reflects their sexual orientation or gender identity” was put forward as an example of an action that would become illegal, even if a parent believed they were acting in a child’s best interests.

Daniel Sanderson has the full story

05:01 PM GMT

‘Complacent’ Ed Davey faces growing calls to quit

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey faced growing calls to quit today over his role in the Post Office Horizon scandal.

Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, joined a growing number of Tory MPs who have condemned Sir Ed, who was the Post Office minister from May 2010 to February 2012, for failing to act.

More than 700 branch managers were convicted after faulty Horizon accounting software, made by the Japanese technology firm Fujitsu, made it look as though money was missing from their shops.

Sir Ed has faced intense criticism since it emerged he turned down a request to meet campaigning sub-postmaster Alan Bates in 2010.

Read the full story here

04:52 PM GMT

'The student loan racket is slowly bankrupting Britain'

There are lots of different criticisms that are made of lending out money, writes Matthew Lynn.

It is unfair. The interest rates can be punitive. And it adds little value to a productive economy. “Neither a borrower nor a lender be; for a loan doth often lose both itself and friend,” as Shakespeare wisely observed in a memorable line from Hamlet.

Still, traditionally it did at least have one thing going for it. It turned a profit. And yet, the UK’s student loan system no longer meets even that basic criteria. According to an extraordinary report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) this week, student loans will lose money even if they are repaid in full.

The university system has turned into a racket that works for no one apart from a few overpaid vice-chancellors – and it is steadily bankrupting the country. It takes quite some skill to lose money on something that should be as straightforward as a student loan.

Matthew Lynn: Our university system is a scandalous mess

04:42 PM GMT

Breaking: Plans to place asylum seekers in Farnborough paused, says minister

04:38 PM GMT

Lord Cameron: We must have 'dialogue at a decent level' with China

Asked to name a “single benefit” of his predecessor James Cleverly’s trip to Beijing, Lord Cameron replied: “Yes I can, I think that most importantly his Mansion House speech was excellent.

“I think it really is a good speech on Britain’s relationship with China and the difficulties and pitfalls and problems and how we should approach it.

“Look, we have a situation in our relationship at the moment where, you know, where we do need to have a relationship where we can discuss climate change, AI, trade matters, where we have a proper dialogue. The way to be able also to raise these cases, whether it’s Jimmy Lai, whether it’s other things, is to have a dialogue at a decent level.”

Pressed for a benefit of Mr Cleverly’s visit, Lord Cameron said: “Yes, I think things would probably be worse without it. That’s a very Sir Humphrey answer but I think that’s true... I think it’d be much worse without it.”

04:30 PM GMT

Lord Cameron: China has changed in the last few years

Lord Cameron has reflected on the role of Huwaei in critical telecoms networks.

The Government banned the firm from having any involvement in 2020 amid concerns about the company’s Chinese ownership.

“It was difficult because it was one of the few things that after leaving office I actually asked for a proper briefing about, because the advice changed quite rapidly from 2015, when I think I last discussed it properly as prime minister, to 2017 or 2018.

“I don’t think it was any resistance in the Foreign Office, the situation had changed. What the Americans were doing had changed... it actually changed the nature of Huwaei’s business in Britain, if I can put it that way.”

Mr Cameron added: “China has changed in the last few years and become more assertive and aggressive, and that’s why the ‘protect’ part of the policy is so important.”

04:19 PM GMT

No10 keeps quiet on Davey knighthood

Downing Street has declined to say whether Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader who was the postal minister between 2010 and 2012, should hand back his knighthood.

“When it comes to current political figures, I’ll leave it to my political colleagues,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

04:09 PM GMT

Good afternoon

Dominic Penna here, The Telegraph’s Political Correspondent, guiding you through the rest of the day.

04:08 PM GMT

Paula Vennells returning CBE 'obviously the right decision', says No10

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells handing back her CBE is “obviously the right decision”, Downing Street has said.

Asked about her decision, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We think that is obviously the right decision.

“Our focus continues to be on ensuring all those whose lives were torn apart have swifter access to compensation and justice.”

On Tuesday lunchtime, Ms Vennells said in a statement that she was “aware of the calls from subpostmasters and others to return my CBE”.

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 postmasters were prosecuted after faulty accounting software made it look like money was missing from their sites. Fewer than 100 convictions have been overturned to date.

04:01 PM GMT

Putin cannot 'wait us out' on support for Ukraine, says Lord Cameron

The Foreign Secretary said Vladimir Putin will not be able to “wait out” Ukraine’s allies and that the UK will continue to support Kyiv long into the future.

Lord Cameron told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee: “Our commitment is such that with our allies we want to demonstrate to Putin very clearly that he cannot wait us out. That we are prepared to support Ukraine through ‘24, ‘25, ‘26.

“We are prepared to give that support because this is absolutely the challenge of our generation.”

03:36 PM GMT

‘Yes, of course I am worried about that’

Lord Cameron said he “worried” about the question of whether Israel may have breached international humanitarian law in Gaza.

He told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee: “If you are asking me am I worried that Israel has taken action that might be in breach of international law because this particular premises has been bombed or whatever, yes, of course I am worried about that and that is why I consult the Foreign Office lawyers when giving this advice on arms exports.

“So if you put it that way, I am happy to say yes, of course, every day I look at what has happened and ask questions about is this in line with international humanitarian law, could the Israelis have done better to avoid civilian casualties, of course I do that.”

Asked if he had received legal advice from Government lawyers saying that Israel was in breach of humanitarian law, the Foreign Secretary said: “The short answer to that is no but I want to qualify it instantly because it is not fair on the lawyers because of course the lawyers give you lots of advice saying ‘look, we are worried about this event, that event, this event, that event…’.”

03:05 PM GMT

Lord Cameron: Two British hostages still being held in Gaza

There are two British hostages still being held in Gaza, Lord Cameron told MPs on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee this afternoon.

Asked if he could say how many UK nationals remained as hostages, the Foreign Secretary said: “Yes, there are two British nationals that remain as hostages. I don’t want to make any further comment on them.”

02:59 PM GMT

Foreign Secretary in favour of 'humanitarian pauses' in Gaza 'right now'

The Foreign Secretary said he would be in favour of further “humanitarian pauses... right now” in the Israel-Hamas war but said a “sustainable ceasefire” could only be achieved when Hamas was no longer capable of launching attacks into Israel.

Lord Cameron told MPs: “I would be in favour of humanitarian pauses, including right now. Let’s have another pause to try and get hostages out and get more aid in.

“I would be happy for us to do that now. What I am saying about sustainable ceasefire is it does need Hamas to no longer be capable of launching attacks into Israel otherwise it is not sustainable and I hope that moment comes as quickly as  possible.”

02:47 PM GMT

Lord Cameron 'accepts fully' downgrading of 0.7pc aid commitment

Lord Cameron told Rishi Sunak when he was offered the role as Foreign Secretary that he would “accept fully” the decision to downgrade the UK’s international aid spending commitment from 0.7 per cent of gross national income to 0.5 per cent.

Lord Cameron had delivered the 0.7 per cent target when he was premier but it was reduced by the Tories after the pandemic delivered a hammer blow to the public finances.

Both Labour and the Tories have said they would like to return to 0.7 per cent when the public finances allow.

Lord Cameron told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee this afternoon: “I said at the time I was disappointed when we went away from 0.7... but I said to the Prime Minister when he asked me to do this job that I would accept fully Cabinet collective responsibility and I will work with what we have now...”

02:37 PM GMT

World 'completely different' now than it was when I left No10, says Lord Cameron

Lord Cameron is being grilled by MPs this afternoon for the first time since his return to Westminster in November last year when he was appointed Foreign Secretary.

He told MPs on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that the world was “completely different today” than it was when he left No10 and “everything seems to be heading in a more dangerous direction”.

Asked why he had decided to return to frontline politics, Lord Cameron said it was “just the chance to serve”.

02:22 PM GMT

Labour MP: Return of CBE by Vennells ‘inevitable’

Kevan Jones, a Labour MP and a member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, said Paula Vennells returning her CBE was “inevitable”.

He said a number of questions still needed to be answered about the awarding of the honour in 2019.

Mr Jones told Sky News: “I think it was inevitable. I am a bit bemused by the Government’s response that it is the right thing to do.

“What we need to ask the question now, why is it the Government in 2019 when they knew all about this scandal that someone recommended her for this honour for services to the Post Office.

“Secondly, we also need to know why it was after 2019 she was also appointed a non-executive director of the Cabinet Office and an NHS Trust.”

02:18 PM GMT

Petition starter hails ‘symbolic’ victory over Vennells’ CBE

David Smith, who started a petition calling for Paula Vennells to be stripped of her CBE which was signed by more than 1.2million people, said the decision to hand the honour back was “symbolic” and hopefully “just the start”.

The former software developer from Greater Manchester said: “To me, the removal of the CBE is just the start. The ultimate goal is for the subpostmasters to get the justice they deserve. In many ways, this is symbolic, but it is a massive symbol.

“What I’m hoping is that as soon as somebody as senior as her is held accountable at this level, it will start a domino effect that will lead to the justice and compensation that everyone affected deserves.”

Robin Priestley, campaigns director at 38 Degrees which hosted the petition, said: “This is an incredible example of people power in action.”

02:03 PM GMT

The process for returning an honour

The King will have to formally anul Paula Vennells’ honour, writes Victoria Ward, The Telegraph’s deputy royal editor.

Halsbury’s Laws of England states that the Crown has the power to cancel and annul honours it has previously granted, with the monarch acting on the formal advice of the prime minister.

According to the House of Lords Library, honours can be forfeited when someone is deemed to have brought the system into disrepute.

A recommendation for the forfeiture of an honour can be made by contacting the Cabinet Office. Recommendations are then considered on an individual basis by the Honours Forfeiture Committee.

The committee’s recommendations are then presented by the prime minister to the monarch. If the monarch approves the recommendation, a notice of forfeiture is published in the London Gazette.

The committee is chaired by Sir Chris Wormald KCB. Other members are the Treasury Solicitor and four permanent, independent members.

Anyone whose honour is removed will be asked to return their insignia to Buckingham Palace and can no longer make any reference to their having an honour in the future.

01:57 PM GMT

'Right thing to do'

A Government source said Paula Vennells effectively handing back her CBE was “the right thing to do”.

Downing Street had previously said Rishi Sunak would “strongly support” the Honours Forfeiture Committee if it decided to look at stripping the award.

01:55 PM GMT

'Shame it took just a million people to cripple her conscience'

A former subpostmistress has said she is “glad” ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells has handed her CBE back, adding: “It’s a shame it took just a million people to cripple her conscience.”

Jo Hamilton, who was wrongfully convicted in 2008 of stealing thousands of pounds from the village shop in South Warnborough, Hampshire, told the PA news agency: “It shows the people have spoken - about everything really.

“It’s not just about her CBE, it’s about how disgusting the whole thing is. We’re all sick and tired of people taking money, being paid exorbitant amounts of money, and politicians taking absolutely no notice of you whatsoever... I think the people are just sick of it.”

She added: “I’m glad she’s given it back. It’s a shame it took just a million people to cripple her conscience.”

01:43 PM GMT

Starmer extends poll lead over Sunak

Sir Keir Starmer leads Rishi Sunak by 15 points on the question of who would make the better prime minister.

A new poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies on January 7 found 45 per cent of respondents picked Sir Keir.

Some 30 per cent picked Mr Sunak.

Backing for Sir Keir was up by six points but down by two points for Mr Sunak when compared to the company’s previous poll on December 17.

01:19 PM GMT

Government ‘actively considering’ new law to quash Post Office convictions

Alex Chalk said the Government is actively considering introducing a new law to quash the convictions of subpostmasters caught up in the Post Office Horizon IT scandal.

There are growing calls from MPs for the Government to take such a step as ministers consider how best to help victims who were wrongly prosecuted.

Nadhim Zahawi, the former chancellor, raised the matter in the Commons as he told Mr Chalk: “Until those convictions are overturned the victims cannot claim compensation. We can do something good, together, if the Justice Secretary would bring a simple Bill to quash all 800 immediately.”

Mr Chalk said: “The suggestion he has made is receiving active consideration. I expect to be able to make further announcements shortly.”

01:07 PM GMT

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to hand back CBE

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells has said she will hand back her CBE with immediate effect amid the fallout of the Horizon IT scandal.

In a written statement issued to the PA news agency, Ms Vennells said:

12:56 PM GMT

Labour accuses Government of 'scrabbling around' over Rwanda Bill

Labour accused the Government of “scrabbling around” as it criticised the timing of the debate on the Rwanda Bill (see the post below at 12.37).

Lucy Powell, the shadow Commons leader, told the House: “Isn’t this just another example of this Government making it up as it goes along, with no real plan, scrabbling around trying to make something of this failed, unworkable plan?

“We have had at least three business statements or questions since the Bill began being timetabled. Wouldn’t you expect such an announcement to be made in a business statement in the usual way.”

Penny Mordaunt replied: “If I had waited to announce this for the first time on Thursday there would have been very limited time for people to table announcements ahead of the normal tabling deadline.

“We are making this announcement to facilitate [MPs] in tabling amendments if they wish to do so. We do not wish to bring forward legislation that will not be successful. This is a matter of great importance to the general public. We wish it to be successful and I hope the House will understand why we have given them a heads up of the business for next week.”

12:37 PM GMT

Rwanda Bill to return to Commons next week

The battle over Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda Bill will resume in the House of Commons next week amid the threat of a potential Tory rebellion.

The Bill, which the Government hopes will pave the way for migrant deportation flights to Rwanda to finally take off, will be debated by MPs on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Penny Mordaunt, the Commons Leader, announced the timing in the Commons at lunchtime today.

MPs will be able to table amendments as some seek to strengthen the legislation while others may try to water it down.

Dozens of Tory MPs abstained when the first vote was held on the Bill in December but warned they would vote against it at a later date unless the Government listened to their calls to toughen it up.

12:28 PM GMT

Post Office scandal not discussed at Cabinet meeting

The Post Office scandal was not discussed at this morning’s meeting of the Cabinet, Downing Street said.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “No, that has been discussed by ministers previously.”

12:15 PM GMT

Sunak urges Cabinet to 'redouble efforts' to deliver on promises

Rishi Sunak urged his Cabinet ministers this morning to “redouble” their efforts to deliver on the Government’s “promises to the British public”.

The Prime Minister “opened Cabinet by recognising the achievements from last year, from halving inflation to reducing small boat crossings by a third”, Downing Street said.

“He said that as we enter a new year, we are going in the right direction, but the Government must redouble its efforts to deliver on its promises to the British public and seize opportunities to support our prosperity.

“The Prime Minister said the Government will be focussed in the coming year on ensuring hard work is rewarded, that ambition and aspiration are celebrated, and that families are supported with young people given more access to the skills and opportunities they need to succeed.”

12:07 PM GMT

Disrespectful to take children out of school for cheaper holidays, says Labour

Parents should not take children out of school for cheaper holidays and “birthday treats”, the shadow education secretary said as she argued doing so was disrespectful.

In a speech to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in London, Bridget Phillipson said: “Cheaper holidays, birthday treats, not fancying it today – these are no excuses for missing school.

“Penalties must be part of the system, but they can never be the answer alone. Allowing your child to skip school without good reason shouldn’t just be cause for a fine. It’s deeper.

“It’s a mark of disrespect for the children, the teachers, the school. Because absences hurt not just the children missing, but the children there.”

11:53 AM GMT

Pictured: India's defence minister inspects ceremonial guard during visit to London

11:26 AM GMT

‘School should be the last to close and the first to open’

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson attacked the Government’s pandemic-era record on education and vowed schools should be the “last to close and the first to open” if a similar national crisis hit under Labour.

“When the Government first reopened schools for most of our children, the pubs had already been open for weeks,” she said.

“That was entirely the wrong way around. And I tell you today, that if I’m secretary of state for education, if and when such a national crisis comes again, school should be the last to close and the first to open.”

11:11 AM GMT

Former education recovery tsar backs Labour plan on school absences

Sir Kevan Collins, the Government’s former education recovery commissioner, has backed Labour’s plan to address persistent absence in England’s schools.

Introducing shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson at a speech to the Centre for Social Justice on the party’s vision for schools, Sir Kevan said “too many of our children are still living with the disruption” of the pandemic.

He said: “Covid revealed the best and worst of our system: teachers performed heroically as they turned on a sixpence to deliver online learning, parents leant in to support their children’s learning as never before and our children displayed resilience and determination to continue their studies.

“However, too many of our children are still living with the impact of the disruption. The failure to re-engage and return to established norms is seen in the collapse in school attendance. For too many children the habit and convention of going to school every day has been broken.

“Tackling the crisis of persistent absence must therefore be a priority and the national response must measure up to the scale of the local challenge. It demands a shared endeavour.

“Education standards should always take top priority. I’m excited by Bridget’s ambition for our education system and her determination to raise standards and improve outcomes for all our children.”

10:45 AM GMT

Labour starts 2024 with more than double poll support of Tories

Labour has started 2024 with more than double the voter support of the Tories, according to a new YouGov poll.

The survey, conducted between January 2-3, put Labour on 46 per cent of the vote and the Conservatives on 22 per cent, giving the former a lead of 24 points.

Labour were up by three points and the Tories were down by two points when compared to the company’s previous poll conducted between December 19-20.

The poll numbers suggest Rishi Sunak has a mountain to climb as he looks to guide the Tories to their fifth consecutive general election victory, with the contest expected to happen in the second half of this year.

The latest poll also had the Liberal Democrats unchanged on 10 per cent, Reform UK down by two points to nine per cent and the Green Party down by one point to seven per cent.

10:23 AM GMT

Pass ‘exceptional’ law to quash convictions of Post Office scandal victims, says ex-justice secretary

Parliament should pass an “exceptional” law to quash the convictions of postmasters wrongly prosecuted as part of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, a former justice secretary said.

Sir Robert Buckland said he believed Parliament “can and should act” immediately to pass legislation to help the victims because “we can’t wait anymore”.

He told Sky News: “I think Parliament can and should act here to pass legislation that would terminate, quash, end these convictions to make the point that we can’t wait anymore.

“A number of sub-postmasters have already died. The process, if we allow it to take its normal course through the courts, through the criminal appeals commission will take years. And I don’t think now, bearing in mind the length of time that has already elapsed, that we have any more time to waste on this. That is why I am proposing an exceptional, if you like, a unique approach to this problem.”

He added: “The sheer breadth of numbers here, I think that the alternatives the Government have are very narrow indeed.”

Ministers are currently considering options to help the victims including exonerating all those unjustly convicted, and stripping the Post Office of handling the appeals process, with announcements expected this week.

10:15 AM GMT

Labour tries to force ministers to disclose full cost of Rwanda plan

Labour will today attempt to force the Government to disclose the full cost of its Rwanda migrant deportation plan.

The party is holding an opposition day debate in the House of Commons this afternoon and is urging MPs to vote for a binding motion which would compel ministers to release a series of documents relating to the cost of the scheme.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said it was “time for the Tories to come clean” about how much taxpayers’ money was being spent on the plan.

She tweeted that “taxpayers should be told the full price”.

MPs are likely to vote on the Labour motion at 7pm but it would appear unlikely to pass unless there is an unexpected Tory rebellion.

09:43 AM GMT

Lord Cameron faces first grilling by MPs

Lord Cameron will face his first grilling by MPs this afternoon following his return to Westminster as Foreign Secretary.

The former Tory leader is due to give evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee from 2.30pm.

He was appointed Foreign Secretary on November 13 last year.

09:27 AM GMT

Pictured: Health Secretary Victoria Atkins arrives in Downing Street for Cabinet meeting

09:14 AM GMT

Sir Ed Davey has ‘big questions’ to answer on Post Office scandal, says Stride

A Cabinet minister claimed Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has “big questions” to answer on his role in the Horizon scandal as postal affairs minister between 2010 and 2012.

Mel Stride told Sky News: “Those are big questions which he’s being asked in a very robust way. And I think it’s for him to answer those charges.”

Sir Ed has faced fresh scrutiny over his role in the scandal after an ITV drama thrust the Horizon IT issue back into the public spotlight.

Sir Ed told broadcasters yesterday that the “Post Office was lying on an industrial scale to me and other ministers”.

08:56 AM GMT

Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer leaves his London home this morning

08:39 AM GMT

Government looking at changing rules on private prosecutions by companies

The Government is looking at changing the rules around private prosecutions by companies after the Post Office pursued its former employees in that way during the Horizon IT scandal.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride told Times Radio: “My understanding, I’m no lawyer actually, but my understanding is I think that companies generally have the ability to do this.

“It’s not as if the Post Office has had some special dispensation in that respect.

“But it is something that Kevin Hollinrake in his statement to the Commons yesterday on this touched on, and did suggest that it was something that Alex Chalk, who is the Justice Secretary, would be looking at and thinking about.

“But clearly we’ll have to wait to see what kind of conclusions he and others come to.”

08:26 AM GMT

Ministers moving at ‘very considerable pace’ to help Horizon scandal victims

Mel Stride said the Government is moving at “very considerable pace” to help the victims of the Post Office scandal.

It was suggested to the Work and Pensions Secretary that the Government could pass a law tomorrow quashing the convictions.

Asked why the Government was not doing that, Mr Stride told Times Radio: “Well, let’s wait and see exactly what happens but you are absolutely right in what we are doing, in what has been a terrible situation for all of those involved, is to move now at very considerable pace.

“What Kevin Hollinrake [the minister who oversees the Post Office] announced yesterday was that Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, is in discussions with senior people within the justice system, judges and so on, to look at what the options are to make sure that we push through that backlog of appeals as quickly as possible.

“That is not to say that we haven’t already made progress of course because we have paid out £138million to 2,700 people. But there is clearly quite a lot more to do and we are absolutely determined, the Government gets this, and to move at pace.”

08:24 AM GMT

Minister denies Sunak’s Treasury was slow to pay Horizon scandal compensation

A Cabinet minister has rejected the suggestion that the Treasury was slow to pay compensation to the victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal when Rishi Sunak was chancellor.

Mel Stride said that was not a “fair charge at all” and insisted that on Mr Sunak’s watch payments had been expedited “quickly and promptly”.

Asked if it was fair to suggest that the Treasury had been slow to open its cheque book, the Work and Pensions Secretary told Times Radio: “No, I don’t think that is a fair charge at all. In fact I think when Rishi Sunak was there my understanding is that he expedited payments quickly and promptly.

“I think in fact on his watch about £27million was paid out at that particular point. So no, I don’t accept that.”

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