Public pressure leads to Vennells returning honor after ITV drama exposes post office’s horizon it scandal

In a dramatic turn of events, former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells has announced her decision to immediately hand back her Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) award. The move comes in response to widespread public anger and a petition signed by 1.2 million people, demanding the revocation of her CBE following revelations about the Horizon IT scandal.

Vennells was awarded the CBE in 2019 for her services to the Post Office, despite the Horizon IT scandal causing severe repercussions for hundreds of workers. The scandal, involving faulty Fujitsu accounting software called Horizon, led to the wrongful conviction of up to 900 sub-postmasters between 1999 and 2015. These convictions were later overturned due to the software’s errors, with some individuals facing financial ruin and imprisonment.

Vennells’ decision to return her CBE comes after increasing scrutiny, especially in the wake of an ITV drama that portrayed the harrowing experiences of sub-postmasters affected by the scandal. The former CEO expressed her commitment to cooperating with the public inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal and anticipates providing evidence under oath in the coming months.

In her written statement, Vennells stated, “I am truly sorry for the devastation caused to the sub-postmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system.” She emphasized her focus on the ongoing inquiry and pledged not to make further public comments until its conclusion.

Jo Hamilton, a former wrongfully convicted subpostmistress, welcomed Vennells’ decision but remarked, “It’s a shame it took just a million people to cripple her conscience.” Hamilton highlighted the broader sentiment of frustration with issues of financial misconduct and the perceived lack of accountability.

The Horizon IT scandal has sparked calls for justice and accountability, with Members of Parliament (MPs) and peers urging the government to take decisive action. The Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk, indicated that the government is actively considering legislation to quash the convictions of sub-postmasters involved in the scandal. The public inquiry will also determine the legal or financial accountability of IT firm Fujitsu if it is found culpable in the Horizon scandal.

The situation has put a spotlight on corporate responsibility and raised questions about the consequences for those involved in large-scale failures affecting individuals’ lives. As the public inquiry progresses, the government faces mounting pressure to address systemic issues and prevent similar injustices in the future.