Rebecca Thomson, the journalist who broke the Post Office scandal story, discusses the impact and legislative action. Alicia Kearns, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, interrogates the Foreign Secretary on Israel, Ukraine, China, and Balkan hostage taking. Safety concerns faced by MPs are explored, highlighting personal experiences and threats. The need for increased security and protection of the vulnerable is emphasized.
A new law will be introduced to overturn convictions in the post office scandal, addressing the injustice faced by those wrongly convicted.
Drama and human stories can effectively raise awareness and lead to political change, as demonstrated by the impact of a journalist from Computer Weekly in bringing attention to the post office scandal.
Questions are being raised about the role of Fujitsu in the post office scandal and the UK government's continued contract awards to the company, calling for a public inquiry to determine accountability.
Deep dives
Overturning Convictions in the Post Office Scandal
A new law will be introduced to overturn convictions for those involved in the post office scandal. The podcast discusses the impact of this decision and the reactions it has elicited, including a call for recognition of the role played by a journalist from Computer Weekly. There is a recognition that drama and human stories can effectively raise awareness and lead to political change. However, there are concerns about the compensation process and the financial stress experienced by postmasters affected by the scandal.
Swift Exoneration and Compensation for Post Office Victims
The government has announced new legislation to swiftly exonerate and compensate those wrongly convicted in the Horizon scandal. Prime Minister's Questions saw promises of justice and compensation, with an upfront payment of £75,000 for postmasters affected by the scandal. However, while this is seen as a significant step forward, there are still concerns about the speed of compensation and the financial stress experienced by the victims.
Fujitsu's Role and Questions About Contracts
Fujitsu, the company behind the post office's IT system, is facing questions about its role in the scandal. Questions are also being raised about why the UK government continues to award contracts to Fujitsu, despite its involvement in the scandal. The podcast mentions calls for a public inquiry to address these issues and determine accountability.
Foreign Affairs and Ukraine
The podcast briefly touches on foreign affairs, including discussions about Israel, Rwanda, and Ukraine. The focus on Ukraine includes an interview with Alicia Kerenz, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. She discusses the need for continued American support for Ukraine and emphasizes the importance of Ukraine's security and freedom. Alicia Kerenz also addresses concerns about her own safety as an MP, including threats from foreign actors.
Conclusion
The podcast concludes with a mention of future episodes diving deeper into the post office inquiry, with upcoming evidence from post office investigators and Fujitsu. Listeners are encouraged to stay tuned for further coverage and developments in the scandal.
Today, we look at Rishi Sunak’s plan to bring in a new law that will overturn convictions for victims of the Horizon IT scandal.
James and Chris talk to Rebecca Thomson, the journalist who first broke the story back in 2009.
Alicia Kearns, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee is also on, after having grilled Lord Cameron, the foreign secretary, over the UK’s approach to the war in the middle east, as well as military support for Ukraine.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook. It was made by Chris Flynn with Clare Williamson, Gemma Roper and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
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