The Horizon scandal is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history.
People who worked hard to serve their communities had their lives and reputations shattered because of the appalling failings of others. One of our own sub-postmistresses here in Cheltenham, Wendy Buffrey, was wrongly accused. Years passed before she saw her conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal in April 2021.
Following that acquittal, the Government set up a public inquiry into the scandal, and I was pleased at the time that ministers listened to representations from Wendy, me and others to give the inquiry powers to compel witnesses to give evidence. Sir Wyn Williams has been hearing harrowing testimony for many months now and the inquiry is expected to conclude later this year.
Despite the inquiry and the acquittals, the tragedy is that many sub-postmasters have not come forward. Bruised and traumatised by their ordeal, a significant number have felt unable to engage with the legal process. For others, the passage of time has meant that the evidence required for them to establish their innocence has been lost or destroyed. Tragically, some have gone to their graves wrongly convicted.
That is beyond appalling, and it’s why the Prime Minister announced last week that hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and mistresses will be swiftly exonerated and compensated under new laws to be brought forward by the Government. This is of course an exceptional course. Parliament as a rule should stay well away from the independent legal process. but in these wholly unprecedented circumstances it is the right one. Our country has to put this right.
I have been candid that these steps may lead to some guilty people being acquitted. That is a bitter pill to swallow, but it is sadly unavoidable. We have to steel ourselves for that. And we should remember the maxim of one of our greatest ever lawyers, William Blackstone, who wrote in the eighteenth century that it is “better that ten guilty men escape than one innocent person is made to suffer.”
I expect those responsible to share in the burden of putting this right. Whilst we cannot pre-judge the outcome of the inquiry, I welcome that Fujitsu have apologised and acknowledged that they have a moral obligation to contribute to compensation for postmasters.
We will continue to do all that we can to make sure the truth comes to light, we right the wrongs of the past and victims get the justice they deserve.