Hello!
I was working in my kitchen yesterday with tech guru Andrew, whose technical skills keep Post Office Scandal website from breaking free of its tethers and floating off into space.
Andrew just happened to mention he’d come across an obscure corner of the Post Office Inquiry website in which its financial reports had been published.
They make for very interesting reading. Basically the Inquiry has cost £48m to March this year. I am grateful to Andrew for spotting something I have yet to see reported elsewhere.
Byzantine Redress Schemes R Us
The government’s determination to make the compensation schemes available to Subpostmasters as difficult as possible has been exposed in a letter by former Subpostmaster Chris Head. Chris has written to the current minister Gareth Thomas explaining how, why and where these schemes are overly complicated and unfair.
Chris is not alone. I am in touch with a number of lawyers for Subpostmasters who express varying levels of frustration with the schemes their clients are stuck in.
That’s me
Just a short one today as I’m about to head to London to attending the (sold out) Heilbron lecture, presented by the barrister Flora Page, who will be introduced by her client, former Subpostmaster Seema Misra. I spoke to Seema yesterday and I’m looking forward to seeing how she handles everything.
Tomorrow I’m presenting my first show on Times Radio, sitting in for Carole Walker on the 10pm slot. I can’t guarantee we’ll talk about the Post Office, but you never know. In December I’ll be filling in for Andrew Neil and then doing a few bits and bobs around the Christmas schedule.
If you can make it to Otley in Yorkshire on Friday I am looking forward to seeing you. Tickets for the 2pm talk are still available here.
Enjoy the rest of the week and I’ll be back I’m sure with some kind of update soon.
Very best
Nick