Do you mind if we have a look, your honour?
Hello!
It’s Monday, I’m on Day 12 of isolation, but the morning was rather glorious and autumnal, and there are worse ways to start the day than by posting up another piece about access to evidence at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.
The inquiry’s stated position on 5 October was that it would not publish evidence. I thought that was worrying and said so.
Things may – and I mean may – be changing. Read more here.
I must admit I always feel uneasy about getting involved in the Post Office story. I try to keep my role to that of reporter, and lately, commentator. Trying to make something happen within this many-tentacled disaster is not my role. I have only ever wanted to shine a light on it.
But if obstacles are put in the way of us doing our jobs, we have to fight our corner. Of course, whether it will have any bearing on the outcome of anything, is another matter. The Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance remain resolute in their refusal to engage with the inquiry. They think it is designed not to get to the truth, nor touch the single most important issue for the Postmasters whose lives have been ruined – redress. The journalist Tony Collins has written a lot on this, here.
November’s fireworks
As well as the inquiry’s call for evidence “on or before” 6 November, there is the complaint going into the Parliamentary Ombudsman, the first Court of Appeal hearing on 18 November (more info here), the investigation into Paula Vennells’ fitness for office (neatly written up by Karl Flinders at Computer Weekly) and, the application for a judicial review of the Post Office’s Historical Shortfall Scheme.
Thanks to everyone who has recently joined the secret email list. Hopefully this is something like what you were expecting. I am grateful to you for your support.
Right – three more days of this and I can leave the house. Child 1 (who actually got COVID) is out already as she only had to isolate for ten days. When we’re all free, we plan to take the kids to Madame Tussauds, after which I may wish to go back into isolation for another two weeks.
Stay safe, everyone.
Nick