Transparency Task Force Conference Tuesday 26 November 2024

Statement from Kay Linnell:

“I am writing in a personal capacity rather than as a member of the Justice for Sub Postmasters Alliance in respect of the campaign against the disgraceful treatment of Sub Post Masters by Post Office Limited, and by the supervising Department of Business and Trade, to comment on the commonalities between the treatment of Sub Post Masters, and the victims of maladministration, suspected financial crime and fraud perpetrated on those people and organisations who have suffered as a consequence of regulatory failure by the Financial Conduct Authority; for example in the London Capital & Finance scandal, and the many others.  

The Post Office scandal has taught us that arms-length bodies must not be allowed to ‘go rogue’ through a lack of transparency, scrutiny, challenge, supervision, oversight and accountability; and in particular through the presiding Minister ignoring cries for help, and choosing to believe powerful vested interests rather than the innocent, the weak and the vulnerable.

It should be noted that denying justice to those who have been treated in a grotesquely unjust manner can, and sometimes does, lead to widespread righteous indignation and even a sense of national shame. And sometimes heads roll, eventually. 

The Report by the APPG on Investment Fraud & Fairer Financial Services is clearly a serious attempt to wave a red flag to the relevant Minister and Parliamentarians. Let’s hope it is treated with the seriousness it deserves and that the Ministers and officials do not respond with wilful blindness, or allow the wool to be pulled over their eyes by those with a selfish agenda, again.”