Post Office bosses in Horizon scandal raked in £20m as lives were ruined

Port Office bosses raked in almost £20million while their IT system ripped subpostmasters’ lives apart, it has emerged.

Analysis of company accounts reveals five bosses took home almost £19.4million over 24 years. Paula Vennells, who headed the organisation between 2010 and 2019, earned £5.1million during her tenure.

She refused to comment yesterday on allegations she had misled MPs. Confronted by a reporter for Channel 4, she cycled away as she was told there was “a lot of evidence” of a cover-up.

A recording of a meeting in 2013 appears to show Vennells was made aware people could remotely access the Horizon IT system. In 2015, she told the ­Business and Skills Committee remote access was not possible.

Labour MP Liam Byrne, who chairs the committee, said: “We are deeply concerned by the latest revelations regarding the Post Office and will be exploring options for ­penalising the leadership that presided over the scandal. All options are on the table, including the Commons ­exercising its powers in relation to contempt of Parliament.”

Vennells’ successor Nick Read earns a basic salary of £415,000 and he was given a £137,000 bonus in 2022-23.

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The BBC analysis also found that before 2012, when the Royal Mail and Post Office were part of the same organisation, three chief executives – John Roberts, Adam Crozier and Dame Moya Greene – made a total of £12.8million.

More than 700 postmasters had their lives ruined after the faulty Horizon system made it look like money was missing from their branches. The Government is under mounting pressure to finally put this right, with public anger rising after ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, aired in January.

The public inquiry into the Post Office scandal resumes this week, with campaigning hero Alan Bates, a former subpostmaster, set to give evidence tomorrow. Later in the week, a former managing director of the Post Office, David Smith, will appear.

Vennells is expected to appear at the inquiry next month – starting on May 22.

In a previous statement, she said: “I continue to support and focus on co-operating with the inquiry and expect to be giving evidence in the coming months.”

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