Post Office inquiry: CEO Nick Read says he doesn’t need to clear his name after criticism

The outgoing boss of the Post Office has said he does not need to clear his name following criticism of his leadership over the Horizon IT scandal.

Nick Read made the comments as he arrived for the first of three days of evidence to the inquiry into the scandal, in which more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted for stealing cash because of faulty computer software.

The chief executive, who took over from former boss Paula Vennells in 2019, has been accused of prioritising his own pay over compensation for victims, and of failing to tackle the organisation’s culture.

Mr Read is due to step down from the role next year, as previously revealed by Sky News.

As he arrived at the hearing in central London, Sky News’ Adele Robinson asked if the inquiry was his last chance to clear his name.

He replied: “I’m not really sure I’ve got to clear my name.”

It came as the inquiry heard on Wednesday that one of its core participants, former sub-postmaster Gillian Blakey, died last week before receiving her final compensation settlement.

Mrs Blakey was sacked and her husband was prosecuted over an alleged shortfall at their branch in Lincolnshire – before his conviction was later quashed.

Inquiry chairman Sir Wyn Williams said: “My understanding is that Mrs Blakey had not received additional compensation to which she was entitled…

“That must be a matter of great regret for all concerned.”

It comes following complaints that it is taking too long for victims to be paid from the four compensation schemes that have been set up.

Read more:
Execs ‘dragged their feet’ on compensation
‘Second Post Office scandal’ compared to Horizon
Sir Alan Bates threatens legal action

Mr Read told the inquiry he had not been made not fully aware of the “scale and enormity” of the scandal before he took up the role of chief executive in 2019.

When asked if senior leadership had been in a “dream world” about the extent of the issues following initial High Court judgments into the scandal, he replied: “I think it would be impossible not to conclude that.”

Mr Read also said some people at the organisation may have had the view that “not every quashed conviction” was an “innocent” sub-postmaster.

However, he added: “The majority of the organisation would agree that the action that has been taken is absolutely the right action and whether there are guilty postmasters that have been exonerated really is no longer an issue.”

The chief executive, who announced in July he was temporarily “stepping back” from the role to prepare for his appearance at the inquiry, also denied describing a group of Post Office investigators as “untouchables”.

It comes after former chairman Henry Staunton made the claim during his earlier evidence. He said the phrase was used to refer to powerful individuals within the organisation who were involved in the prosecutions of sub-postmasters.

The inquiry continues.