WATCH: Post Office scandal discussed in Scottish parliament as Highland MSP raises question
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A Highland MSP has said that he has received a "heart-wrenching" note from a person who used to run a sub post office who suffered great losses as a result of a faulty computer system.
More than 700 sub postmasters were prosecuted across the UK, including up to 100 in Scotland, after wrongly being accused of embezzling money.
Everyone convicted in Scotland as part of the Post Office Horizon scandal will be cleared of any wrongdoing, First Minister Humza Yousaf has confirmed this week, following on from the UK government's announcement that everyone in England and Wales will be cleared.
Although it has been public knowledge for years with an inquiry ongoing, the recent ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office has thrust the issue back into the spotlight.
Commenting on the announcements by the UK and Scottish governments, Fergus Ewing, SNP MSP for Inverness and Nairn, said: "As Alan Bates himself said: 'The job is not done yet.' The two most important and urgent aims are to exonerate all those who were convicted, and to compensate all who lost.
"The word 'pardon' has been used. You only pardon someone who has done wrong, who has sinned. The sub post office masters and mistresses were entirely innocent victims – they must be exonerated and their convictions overturned and quashed.
"Both these aims must not be allowed to drift but completed as swiftly as possible. To make sure all get compensated the Scottish or UK government must contact each and every person who ran an office, or their family if they have passed, and take proactive steps to make certain no one is left as a victim without justice.
"Yesterday I received a heart-wrenching note from one person who ran a sub post office who had not been convicted but suffered great losses, stating that we must not let this issue be forgotten about as the news focus moves on. I vow to that person, who must remain unnamed, that I will not do that, and nor will my colleague MP Drew Hendry.
"On a wider note this scandal shows the huge power wielded by large corporate and public bodies –anyone who complains is wrong and often victimised.
"This is a serious cultural failing in the UK – in Scotland too, and I think that thought be given to setting up an entirely independent body to deal with serious complaints and remove that function from the public services HR departments. The inherent conflict of interest between doing right – serving justice – and protecting their own interests is shown to be otherwise irresoluble."
Mr Hendry said: “So glad to hear that the First Minister is already looking at ways of ensuring people convicted in Scotland are exonerated and that this is done at pace. Using a legislative consent motion seems to be the quickest route to make this happen and I hope that this will start the process of ensuring these families receive the justice they deserve. It is clear there is a lot more to be done for affected people and their families in terms of holding those responsible to account, and my colleagues and I will continue to press the UK government to act in this regard.”
Yesterday, Mr Yousaf faced questions at the Scottish Parliament. Highland Conservative MSP Douglas Ross said it was important to “overturn convictions as quickly as possible”, adding the Post Office's actions were “despicable and probably criminal”.
He also called for more information on the Crown Office's role in handling cases in Scotland.
