Nick Read, the outgoing chief executive of the Post Office, faced a three-day inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal, succeeding Paula Vennels in 2019 with the aim to rectify past mistakes. During his testimony, he revealed several key insights.
Firstly, it was evident that Mr. Read was not fully aware of the magnitude of the challenges awaiting him at the Post Office, as he was not informed about the wrongful prosecutions of sub-postmasters due to the faulty Horizon software. Despite being advised not to delve into the past, he acknowledged the organization’s denial and paralysis in addressing these issues.
Secondly, Mr. Read’s leadership was marred by controversies surrounding his own remuneration, with claims of lobbying for a pay rise and seeking legal and PR advice from friends. He expressed frustration over his pay but insisted it did not distract him from his duties.
Moreover, Mr. Read raised concerns about the government potentially using the Post Office as a shield to distance itself from compensation decisions for the affected sub-postmasters. He expressed regret over the lengthy process of financial redress and attributed the delays to bureaucratic hurdles rather than prejudice or frugality.
Additionally, the continued employment of staff implicated in the scandal raised eyebrows, with three employees still under investigation and some investigators remaining in different roles within the organization. Mr. Read assured the inquiry of his commitment to addressing specific allegations and rebuilding sub-postmaster confidence.
Furthermore, the inquiry highlighted questions surrounding the missing funds from sub-postmasters’ branch accounts, amounting to £36 million. Mr. Read expressed frustration over the difficulty in tracing the money and acknowledged the heavy-handed nature of the contracts for sub-postmasters, which still allow for investigatory powers.
As Mr. Read wraps up his evidence, he pledged to continue working towards bringing about positive change within the Post Office in the remaining months of his tenure. Sub-postmasters are keenly observing these developments as they seek justice and resolution in the aftermath of the Horizon IT scandal.