Rishi Sunak Supports the Formation of a Committee to Investigate Former Post Office Boss for Honors

Rishi Sunak supports the reassessment of Paula Vennells' CBE by the honours committee following the Horizon IT scandal that led to the unjust conviction of Post Office workers.

The Forfeiture Committee, which decides on the stripping of honours, has seen a petition with over a million signatures for Vennells to forfeit her award.

Sunak's spokesperson said he shares the public's outrage and backs the committee to review the case, though the decision rests with them, not the government.

The Forfeiture Committee may propose the removal of an honour to the King via the prime minister; it does not judge guilt but whether the honours system's integrity has been compromised. Individuals can also voluntarily surrender their honours.

Vennells, Post Office CEO from 2012 to 2019 and involved in the Horizon system's defense, has apologized to affected staff. She's cooperating with the ongoing inquiry and has stepped down from the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust following legal victories by wrongfully convicted postmasters.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk and Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake discussed aiding cleared branch managers, with an upcoming statement from Hollinrake.

Before joining the Post Office, Vennells worked at L'Oréal and Whitbread, rising to CEO before her 2019 resignation due to the Horizon scandal. The software flaws led to over 700 wrongful prosecutions of Post Office managers.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and others have called for the revocation of Vennells' CBE. Generally, honours are removed upon conviction and imprisonment, but exceptions like Fred Goodwin's case exist. The Cabinet Office has refrained from commenting on individual honours cases.