Theresa May backs Paula Vennells CBE 'despite warnings'

Ms Vennells returned her CBE last week. Photo: Post Office

Theresa May's government held a CBE for Paula Vennells, the former head of the Post Office, despite warnings made to the honors committee about the Horizon scandal, it has been reported.

Ms Vennells returned her CBE last week amid a storm in which more than 900 Post Office staff were wrongly prosecuted after faulty software in the Horizon IT accounting system made it appear money was missing from branches.

In returning the honor, she said she was “sincerely sorry for the devastation” caused to deputy postmasters whose “lives have been torn apart by wrongful accusations and unfair prosecutions.”

Ms Vennells received a CBE — the second most prestigious title after a knighthood or damehood — in the 2019 New Year Honors List.

The Sunday Times reported that at least one member of the core awards committee questioned the wisdom of giving her a CBE given the controversy over the Post Office's treatment of deputy postmasters and the fact that she was still in the position.< /p>

According to the newspaper, a source familiar with the exchange said that the concerns were “brushed aside.” Another source said the responsibility for highlighting potential problems rests with the “sponsoring department,” in this case the Department of Business, which nominated her for the award.

Paula Vennells (left) at the actual Select Committee hearings into the Horizon Post Office scandal. Photo: Pixel8000

Meanwhile, a senior civil servant recalled that there was a view that Ms Vennells had “inherited” the Horizon scandal and was “more of a clarifier than a cause.”

Ms. Vennells served as CEO of the Post. Office from 2012 to 2019. Until 2015, the post office continued to file private charges over cash shortages in its branches.

In December 2019, Justice Fraser handed down a damning High Court ruling that Horizon's system was not «remotely reliable» and there was a «material risk» that the shortage would branch accounts will be called up by the system.

During the award process, candidates are screened and submitted to 10 sub-committees for deliberation.

The main committee then approves the list, which is submitted to the Prime Minister. minister and ultimately the monarch.

Ms May's spokeswoman said: “The honors system is an independent process that awards honors to more than 2,000 people every year. As Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Theresa May MP has always respected the independence of this system, but believes this is the right thing to do. Paula Vennells got her CBE back.»