Good morning friends
One day this will all seem like a bad dream. Right now we’re all living it.
Here is a link to my lengthy report on yesterday’s evidence – it’s called:
Today we are going to hear from another Postal Affairs Minister – Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats who famously refused to meet Alan Bates shortly after assuming power in 2010.
Unless you are blessed with Ken McCall’s powers of recall, you will remember that earlier this week I posted the contents of a civil service note teeing Davey up for his eventual meeting with Sir Alan in October 2010. What we don’t know is how the meeting went.
Diligent and assiduous
Alan Bates was diligent and assiduous in his campaign. He seemingly wrote to everyone at every level of government and the Post Office, seeking to persuade them of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance’s concerns. I have met him quite a few times – he is not someone you dismiss lightly.
It will be interesting to hear what Ed Davey thought of what Alan told him and what he did about it. The evidence suggests the answer is not much. There is also Davey’s part time job working for Herbert Smith Freehills – the law firm which designed the patently unfair Horizon Shortfall Scheme for Subpostmasters affected by the scandal. HSF continue to act for the Post Office on matters of compensation – recently advising that Alan Bates should be offered less than a quarter of his compensation claim.
Davey’s spokespeople told the Daily Mail “Ed had no knowledge that HSF held this account and never had any conversations about the Post Office or Horizon scandal at any occasion with HSF.” They also told the Mail “Ed was one of the many ministers who was misled and lied to by the Post Office. Ed wishes he knew then what he does now and his focus now is on getting justice and compensation for the victims.”
I’ll be at the Inquiry and I’ll write up my thoughts on what Davey says when it’s over.
Have a good day.
Nick