Sir Ed Davey

I am quite concerned about the information around Blairs government and this issue, I was and am a supporter of Blairs government, yet still I can manage to cope with criticism of their role in this affair. It's not difficult.

Two of us upthread, have suggested a thread be started about that precise thing.

Why is no one asking questions of any of the eight Labour and eight Conservative politicians who have been responsible for the Post Office at various times since the Horizon system was installed in 1999?

Perhaps, instead of following the misinformation peddled by the right wing media to attack Ed Davey, you should heed the words of Alan Bates, who, when asked on Channel 4 News about Ed Davey's position, said it was wrong to criticise Ed Davey because he was given a bum steer by officials.”

For Varian, goodness, are you one of the LibDem's chief supporters?! Sir Ed refused to meet Mr Bates, saying it would serve no purpose. When he DID meet up, that was much later, he'd added to the massive delay. There is also a local scandal, he refused to meet a sub-postmaster in his Kingston and Surbiton constituency, rejecting 3 attempted meetings.

His connection to the firm pushing claimants away reeks like a sewage farm, PLUS he has been a frequent caller for those affected by scandals to resign, some irony now he's tapdancing frantically away from all comments and questions?!

Resigning is the easy way out, he should be fired

Tho these are just 'views'. Nobody's right and nobody's wrong.

Callistemon21

I did post a list of all Post Office Ministers, feel free to start a thread about each one, MaizieD.

I asked a question and posters are responding with their views, right or wrong

Why keep attacking and belittling them?

I would be interested in seeing such a thread, personally.

MaizieD

Callistemon21

I did post a list of all Post Office Ministers, feel free to start a thread about each one, MaizieD.

I asked a question and posters are responding with their views, right or wrong

Why keep attacking and belittling them?

This is trial by media, Callistemon, mostly driven by the right wing media.

The tories have presided over this debacle almost from the time when it first was drawn to the attention of the public in 2009. Funnily enough, it is a member of another party, the LibDems who is being targeted and smeared for his involvement in the first 2 years of tory government. What about subsequent 10 years when the tories have backed the PO to the hilt?

Removing Davey and leaving the LibDems to find a new leader in an election year would be very convenient for a party way behind in the polls. IMO it stinks.

However, the hit to Davey’s personal ratings does not seem to have affected the Lib Dems’ popularity overall. The party has 11% of the vote, unchanged from the vote share in the final poll of 2023. The overall poll is also largely unchanged, with Labour on 41% and the Tories on 27%.

Davey’s personal ratings - the difference between those who think he is doing a good or bad job - have fallen from -4% to -13% in the most recent poll. Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak’s approval ratings have remained broadly stable since before Christmas. Starmer leads Sunak by 30% to 22% on who voters regard as the best prime minister.

It seems Ed Davey was not very popular before this came out. I'm surprised. The Lib Dems popularity is unchanged.

Guardian 13/1/24

Kleberty2

All mainstream politicians represent the status quo and are either corrupt or corruptible. Stop forever voting for the status quo because when you do that you end up with people like Sir Davey. There are alternative parties out there and in future I’ll be voting for one from the left slate that is offering fundamental change for this broken country and if there’s no such party on my ballot paper I’ll be spoiling it. I’ve had more than enough of more of the same.

That remark is patently untrue Kleberty2. Politicians as people are as varied as the rest of the population is, they are not all corrupted or corruptible.

All mainstream politicians represent the status quo and are either corrupt or corruptible. Stop forever voting for the status quo because when you do that you end up with people like Sir Davey. There are alternative parties out there and in future I’ll be voting for one from the left slate that is offering fundamental change for this broken country and if there’s no such party on my ballot paper I’ll be spoiling it. I’ve had more than enough of more of the same.

In 1998 the then uk ambassador to Japan was told ( by Fujitsu) that there would be dire consequences for the company ( Fujitsu were in serious financial difficulties) and Tony Blair’s new government if the project was scrapped.
In 1998 Tony Blair attended a trade fair in Japan.
Gordon Brown wanted to scrap the deal.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/45761.stm

Casdon

Absolutely. I don’t agree with one person being singled out and castigated before the full extent of other peoples involvement is known, but dirty tactics is what can be expected.

I don’t see any sign that Ed Davey is going to resign, has anybody seen anything about that?

I don't agree with it, either,*Casdon*.

Which is why I'm making such a fuss on here.

Absolutely. I don’t agree with one person being singled out and castigated before the full extent of other peoples involvement is known, but dirty tactics is what can be expected.

I don’t see any sign that Ed Davey is going to resign, has anybody seen anything about that?

That’s as it should be Casdon Ed Davey and anyone else.

It seems Tony Blair has involvement with the company signing off on contracts despite being warned their accounting software was flawed

Don’t you think there’s a lot more to come about ministerial involvement in this though? Ed Davey is a target currently, but I’d bet there will be much more uncovered, and many others who made key decisions will be equally or more in the frame over the coming weeks. I think most of the truth will out on this, and it’s not going to be at all pretty for any of the parties, not just the Lib Dem’s.

Callistemon21

I did post a list of all Post Office Ministers, feel free to start a thread about each one, MaizieD.

I asked a question and posters are responding with their views, right or wrong

Why keep attacking and belittling them?

This is trial by media, Callistemon, mostly driven by the right wing media.

The tories have presided over this debacle almost from the time when it first was drawn to the attention of the public in 2009. Funnily enough, it is a member of another party, the LibDems who is being targeted and smeared for his involvement in the first 2 years of tory government. What about subsequent 10 years when the tories have backed the PO to the hilt?

Removing Davey and leaving the LibDems to find a new leader in an election year would be very convenient for a party way behind in the polls. IMO it stinks.

hallgreenmiss

MaizieD

Ed Davey received a handsome payment from the solicitors ruthlessly prosecuting (and lying to) the sub postmasters. He was a consultant at that firm whilst also Minister for the Post Office.

Well, prove that he was up to his neck in working on the PO prosecutions while acting as consultant and I might take a different view.

I suspect that it was 'consultancy' in name only and entailed very little work... But I know as little as anyone else does.

That’s beside the point. When an MP gives his good name and reputation to a business he has a responsibility to inform himself of all aspects of the business

Absolutely👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I did post a list of all Post Office Ministers, feel free to start a thread about each one, MaizieD.

I asked a question and posters are responding with their views, right or wrong

Why keep attacking and belittling them?

MaizieD

Why is no-one calling for the heads of the 19 other PO ministers who presided over this scandal?

You're all being played and responding beautifully...

I agree with you insomuch as we are all being played. See my comment above about "noses in the trough" and corruption at the very top.

I do believe that, whilst Paula Vennells, Ed Davey et al are culpable in this immoral and stinking debacle, there are others in the establishment who are more than happy for them to take the full force of the wrath.

As I said, Rishi Sunak's wife has earned millions in dividends from her share in Fujitsu for a start.

Whilst absolutely nobody would deny the postmasters compensation (although so far they have received a pittance or even nothing at all after 20 years) why is the tax payer funding this?

Why is no-one calling for the heads of the 19 other PO ministers who presided over this scandal?

You're all being played and responding beautifully...

He most definitely should resign. Also annoys me that he is continually speaking in support of carers - rightly so - and emphasising how he has been a carer all his life, firstly from a young age for his mother, then for his own disabled child. Yet he has clearly shown absolutely not a jot of care towards all these poor victims of the Post Office from way back, and even now.

hallgreenmiss

MaizieD

Ed Davey received a handsome payment from the solicitors ruthlessly prosecuting (and lying to) the sub postmasters. He was a consultant at that firm whilst also Minister for the Post Office.

Well, prove that he was up to his neck in working on the PO prosecutions while acting as consultant and I might take a different view.

I suspect that it was 'consultancy' in name only and entailed very little work... But I know as little as anyone else does.

That’s beside the point. When an MP gives his good name and reputation to a business he has a responsibility to inform himself of all aspects of the business

You're joking. All aspects of this perfectly respectable international business?

Every case being taken on by 2,100 lawyers?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Smith_Freehills

MaizieD

^Ed Davey received a handsome payment from the solicitors ruthlessly prosecuting (and lying to) the sub postmasters. He was a consultant at that firm whilst also Minister for the Post Office.^

Well, prove that he was up to his neck in working on the PO prosecutions while acting as consultant and I might take a different view.

I suspect that it was 'consultancy' in name only and entailed very little work... But I know as little as anyone else does.

That’s beside the point. When an MP gives his good name and reputation to a business he has a responsibility to inform himself of all aspects of the business