We have made it! The 5,000 signature target was met and exceeded today before 10:00 am. The final total including paper signatures at this moment in time is 5285 (5032 online + 253 on paper). The messages of thanks has been overwhelming from both the supporters and the other claimants. I am very grateful for all of the messages but the truth is without their help, family, friends and most important the support of all the contributors we would not have got to where we are today, so a really BIG thank you to all of you.
Some of you may not be aware that my local MP Kate Osborne raised a questions at PMQs (Prime Ministers Questions) on Wednesday 26th February asking about an Independent Inquiry to which we received a positive response and commitment to get to the bottom of the matter. This is what Kate asked the Prime Minister Boris Johnson :-
'Like many other Subpostmasters, my constituent, Christopher Head, fell victim of the Horizon IT system scandal. This has resulted in bankruptcy, imprisonment and even suicides. Will the Prime Minister today assure Chris and others that he will commit to launching an Independent Inquiry?'
The Prime Ministers response was surprisingly positive as can be seen below :-
'I am indeed aware of the scandal to which she alludes and the disasters that has befallen many Post Office workers and I am happy - I've met some of them myself - and I am happy to commit to getting to the bottom of the matter in the way that she recommends.'
You can watch the clip live below on Parliament Live Tv :-
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/ed8e91d2-b611-47c6-b8c2-5fa2011dcdf0?in=12:20:43&out=12:21:30
It is without any doubt that the petition showing growing support and anger from the wider public, the continued press coverage both local and national alongside the swelling number of MP's backing us in the House Of Commons made it possible to get this much needed Inquiry. Again all claimants are extremely grateful for your support. The petition will be delivered on Wednesday 4th March at 15:30 alongside a number of MP's supporting our case. We will now be holding the Governments feet to the fire to not only ensure the Inquiry is launched without delay but that it also has the necessary powers to call witnesses, disclose hundreds of thousands of documents/emails and remove non disclosure orders given to certain affected Postmasters and forensic accountants Second Sight. They were brought in by Post Office to investigate and weeks before they released their report Post Office terminated their appointment after they starting requesting access to further information.
I was also notified today by a fellow supporter and campaigner El Shaikh that in February 2019 UKGI who manage Post Office Ltd on behalf of BEIS (Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) brought in an external facilitator to review its performance. This was conducted by ex Post Office chairwoman 'Alice Perkins'. She was in her role during the period of Second Sights Investigations alongside Paula Vennells as CEO. This really is a conflict of interest and appears an attempt to keep everything in house to avoid further scrutiny.
It has become a little difficult to keep up with all the press coverage in the past few weeks however I have been made aware of further articles in the Daily Telegraph, Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette and today The Jourmal/Chronicle.
Daily Telegraph - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/02/26/boris-johnson-commits-inquiry-scandal-subpostmasters-accused/
Journal/Chronicle - https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/prime-minister-promises-inquiry-faulty-17820710
We have decided to leave the petition open until the Inquiry gets under way so if any further people wish to sign please feel free. This will also allow me to update you after the petition is delivered and any information with the outcome of the Inquiry that you have helped deliver.
A sincere thank you goes out to everyone once again from myself and on behalf of all the claimants. Have a good weekend.