January 10, 2024 | Posted in News
— Ministers are preparing to set out fresh measures to help support Post Office workers who suffered at the hands of the Horizon IT scandal.
— MPs want all outstanding cases resolved in one bazooka move, and measures to curtail Post Office powers.
— The Conservatives and Lib Dems started a briefing war over who was to blame for the scandal being ignored for so long.
— The government is braced for a small rebellion on its legislation to grant new oil and gas licenses.
— A Conservative MP received an email from CCHQ that sounded a little too personal.
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TV CHANGES LIVES: Ministers are preparing to deliver their latest response to the Horizon IT scandal that ruined the lives of hundreds of sub-post masters, as the government scrambles to grip the narrative in the wake of a *checks notes* TV drama.
Indeed: The success of Mr Bates vs The Post Office has driven the issue of Post Office branch managers who suffered wrongful convictions over crap Fujitsu tech to the top of the political agenda. It means MPs and ministers, lots of whom ignored the scandal for a decade or so and gave Post Office bosses the benefit of the doubt, are now desperate to land themselves on the right side of justice.
Right to the top: Even the prime minister is getting in on the action, with Downing Street issuing a strong comment to journalists suggesting former Post Office boss Paula Vennells should be stripped of her CBE. “The prime minister shares the public’s feeling of outrage on this issue,” Sunak’s official spokesman said, adding that the PM would “strongly support” the forfeiture committee that has the power to remove baubles, if it chooses to consider the case.
Compare that with … previous times the government has been asked whether people in business should be stripped of their gongs.
And there’s more: At his PM Connect event in Lancashire this morning, Sunak said the wrongful prosecutions were an “appalling miscarriage of justice” and promised to consider if there is “more we can do” to speed up the compensation process. “People should know that we are on it and we want to make this right,” he said.
And lo: Kevin Hollinrake, the minister responsible for the Post Office, is due up in the Commons in the next hour or so to deliver a statement following his noon meeting with Justice Secretary Alex Chalk. Expect him to voice concerns about the speed at which criminal convictions are being overturned. And no-doubt he’ll echo Sunak’s language on compensation payments, amid accusations the Post Office is dragging its heels.
But but but: Some MPs want ministers to go further too, with a one-size-fits-all plan to deal with all outstanding criminal appeals at once. “All of the cases depend on one single lie,” Conservative MP David Davis told the BBC this morning. “I see no real reason why you can’t have a mass case on that basis.”
One option: Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Playbook PM the government could bring forward a bill to deal with all the cases in one fell swoop, while still allowing the official probe into the matter to run its course on the technicalities. “I think the government does have space in which it can make some moves here,” he said.
And there’s more: Calls are also growing for ministers to strip the Post Office of its right to bring private prosecutions against citizens. Buckland urged the government to review the issue, arguing it would be “safer” if the power was ended. He also suggested a wider review into the overall regulation of private prosecution.
Keir Keir: Labour leader Keir Starmer agreed with calls to take the power back from the Post Office. “I think the prosecution should be taken out of the hands of the Post Office and given to the Crown Prosecution Service,” he said during a visit to the East Midlands. “I used to run the Crown Prosecution Service,” he added, in case people weren’t aware. “We’ve prosecuted for other departments; we can do it here.” He also called for the remaining convictions to be considered “en masse.”
In the meantime … the Lib Dems and the Tories are waging a blame war, after it emerged Lib Dem leader Ed Davey dismissed appeals for help from sub-post masters while he was the relevant minister. Junior Conservative minister Bim Afolami told LBC Davey “needs to be honest with people and explain why as a minister, he didn’t ask the right questions.”
But but but: Lib Dem ex-Business Secretary Vince Cable told the BBC Radio 4 World at One show all *ministers* who dealt with the issue, including Labour and Conservative ministers, did the same as Davey. “He is now being highlighted,” Cable complained. “I suspect the reason is that this is election year and it’s quite good for somebody to try to make a scapegoat of a Lib Dem minister.”
More blame game: Former minister for the Post Office and Conservative MP Paul Scully suggested Sunak should take some blame for the slow rollout of compensation — although Downing Street disputed the claim. The Mirror’s John Stevens has a writeup.
Now think about this: Since 2012, the government has published 197 public sector contracts awarded to Horizon manufacturer Fujitsu, with a combined value of £6.78 billion. That includes a £2.4 billion contract for the Horizon scheme and a £36 million extension to keep it running until 2025. Staff at the Tussell government contracting database compiled the data.
STILL TO COME: Ministers are expecting a small rebellion when MPs vote on the second reading of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill. The debate will start after the Post Office statement. Former Cabinet minister Alok Sharma confirmed to the BBC this morning he can’t support the bill because it will “reinforce that unfortunate perception about the U.K. rowing back from climate action.”
FLOODS OF NEWS: Labour leader Keir Starmer accused the government of being “not quick enough” to respond to floods during a visit to the East Midlands. He said ministers should have set up a task force to get drains cleared and work out a plan with local authorities. Clip here.
YOU RWANDA OUR COMMS PLAN: Rishi Sunak said it was “completely false” to suggest he planned to scrap the Rwanda scheme during the Conservative leadership race in 2022. But as the Sun’s Harry Cole points out, the claim is that he discussed whether to scrap it, not that he decided to do so. The PM was asked about Cole’s story during his PM Connect event.
At which … he said voting for Labour would mean Britain going “back to square one” and that Britain should instead “stick to the plan that is starting to deliver the long term change this country needs.” No smirking at the back.
And also at which … Sunak took so few questions he got a Twitter slap from Mail Pol Ed Jason Groves.
More bad news for Sunak (and the Lib Dems): Reform comes third for the first time in a poll for Redfield and Wilton Strategies, published here in the past few minutes, after the Lib Dems slipped to their lowest rating since August.
WINNING THE DEFENSE TRADE WAR: Germany indicated it would reverse its long-held opposition to the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets — developed under a joint British, German, Italian and Spanish project — to Saudi Arabia. A German government spokesperson put the decision down to the world becoming “a completely different place” after the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. British ministers have been lobbying Berlin to reverse its stance since well before October. Read POLITICO’s story here.
BROKEN BRITAIN: Ministers are working on plans to let councils sell off assets to avoid bankruptcies, according to Bloomberg.
WAIT, WHAT? Conservative MP Stephen McPartland was outraged after Ofgem gave EDF, Octopus and Scottish Power the green light to restart forced installation of pre-paid energy meters in homes.
NOT HAPPENING: No, Jeremy Corbyn and former Labour MP Laura Pidcock aren’t setting up a new political party, according to the latter.
NOTHING TO BE FRIGHTENED OF: Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham urged Labour not to ditch its £28 million green investment plans amid routine attacks from the Tories. “I would absolutely say to the party: stick to your guns, you’re on the right path,” he told the Andrew Marr show on LBC. “If you put that level of investment forward, that is the way you can re-industrialize the north of England.”
TRANSPORT NEWS: The Mirror is sticking it to Rishi Sunak again for taking a plane to his campaign event.
CHOP CHOP: Downing Street dismissed concerns from The Wire actor Idris Elba that it isn’t moving fast enough to tackle the scourge of knife crime. Elba was on BBC Radio 4 this morning noting that while dangerous dogs were banned fast, repeated efforts to ban dangerous knives are too weak and taking too long to make a difference. A spokesman for Rishi Sunak stressed that the government is legislating to ban knives and insisted knife crime was down. “We do want to more and it’s welcome that Idris Elba and others continue to shine a light on this important issue,” the spokesman said.
HOW TO DO JOURNALISM: A reporter for Newsquest in Berkshire spotted Theresa May while on a weekend walk and managed to bag an interview with the former PM about flooding in the area. If only someone had spotted May during the infamous Snowdonia walking trip in 2017, during which the then-PM decided to go for a snap election.
BITCH OF A SCOOP: Former Cabinet minister Thérèse Coffey was surprised to get an email from Conservative headquarters that sounded a little too personal. “Your tax cut, Bitchy,” the subject line read. “Bitchy,” the email went on. “We have halved inflation. Reduced our debt. And now, we are able to focus on the long-term decisions to strengthen our economy.” No colleagues chimed in publicly when she asked a WhatsApp group of Conservative MPs if she was the only one to receive such a missive. But one quipped to Playbook PM about the accidental slur: “Imagine quite a few will quietly agree.”
It’s the content that counts: “I assume this is someone signing me up to our excellent tax cuts campaign on CCHQ,” Coffey chirped to Playbook PM.
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IN THE MIDDLE EAST: Wissam Hassan Tawil, a top Hezbollah commander, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his vehicle in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese media — the Times has more information. Israel is meanwhile carrying out deadly strikes in Syria targeting cargo trucks, infrastructure and people involved in Iran’s weapons lifeline — Reuters has a write-up.
IN CHINA: China detained the head of an overseas consulting firm for allegedly spying on the country for MI6, the U.K.’s foreign intelligence service. China’s Ministry of State Security said the alleged spy, surnamed Huang, provided the U.K. with state secrets and intelligence — Bloomberg has more details.
UKRAINE UPDATE: A Russian warplane accidentally dropped a bomb on a Ukrainian town in Luhansk currently occupied by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s own troops. Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the region’s Moscow-appointed government, said the bomb did not cause injuries — the Independent has a write-up.
IN GERMANY: German farmers blocked city centers, highways and motorway slip roads with tractors in protest over planned cuts to tax breaks and subsidies in the agricultural sector — via the Guardian.
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WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: There are planned announcements on women’s aid; support for renters; veteran mental health; and safe homes for social tenants.
BROKEN BRITAIN: Junior doctors strike set to end at 7 a.m.
GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER: Rishi Sunak chairs a meeting of his Cabinet at 9.30 a.m. while Keir Starmer does the same with the Shadow Cabinet.
BIGGER THAN THE CHINESE CONGRESS: Senior peers talk to the public administration committee about the size of the House of Lords from 9.30 a.m.
BRIDGET ON: Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to speak at the Center for Social Justice from 10 a.m.
IN THE COMMONS: MPs sit from 11.30 a.m. with justice questions followed by opposition day debates.
SNAPPERS ON SHAPPERS: Defense Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to hold a press conference with his Indian counterpart Raksha Mantri in London around noon.
SECOND CAMING: MPs on the foreign affairs committee finally get to quiz ex-PM-turned-Foreign Secretary David Cameron from 2.30 p.m.
MAN TRUSTED ON ECONOMY INTERVIEWS HUNT: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to appear on the Martin Lewis Money Show, from 9 p.m.
**Not attending Davos next week? Don’t worry: you can now register to watch POLITICO’s annual Davos Party on the evening of January 18 from the comfort of your own home. You may or may not witness an exclusive interview… See you then!**
PACKED LUNCH OR PARL LUNCH: Subject to change, here are the lunch menus on the estate tomorrow: Bellamy’s: Jerk pork with rice and peas; chickpea and tarragon tofu with tabbouleh salad and caramelized endive; chicken and mushroom penne carbonara … The Debate: Tandoori salmon on naan with red onion, carrot, and coriander yoghurt; jerk pork with rice and peas; roasted tofu, butternut squash and pepper tagine with giant couscous … Terrace Cafeteria: Vegan haggis sausage roll; lamb pie topped with potato and cheese; jerk pork with rice and cheese … River Restaurant: Mushroom pasta with rocket; Grilled Cajun salmon with spicy rice and salsa; Shepherd’s pie with minted peas and gravy.
ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: On January 8, 2022 then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson said COVID had taken a “terrible toll” on Britain as the number of deaths passed 150,000.