Starmer Refuses to "Carry the Can" for Post Office Prosecutions
Channel: Labour Heartlands
Date: 12/01/2024

Starmer Faces Scrutiny Over Post Office Prosecutions Under His Watch

Sir Keir Starmer is facing tough questions over his role as Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the Post Office scandal. While campaigning for the Labour leadership, he boasted of "carrying the can" for any mistakes made under his watch at the CPS. Yet his past leadership now appears to be catching up with him.

Although most Post Office prosecutions were private, the CPS tried 11 cases during Starmer's tenure from 2008-2013. Three occurred while he was DPP, resulting in convictions and even jail time based on Horizon's defective data.

Despite public concerns emerging about Horizon by 2012, Starmer did not review the private prosecutions as he had the authority to do. This lack of curiosity given the volume of cases has raised alarm.

Starmer insists he was unaware of the prosecutions and that the CPS is "helping" rectify injustices now. However, Tory demands for clarity over his role are growing louder. Even 700-800 cases would seem negligible for an organization the CPS's size, begging the question why Starmer did not investigate further.

The Post Office affair spans 20 years across multiple governments. Other ministers like Ed Davey also face scrutiny. However, Starmer's "carry the can" rhetoric rings hollow given his failure to probe the prosecutions on his watch, or use his powers to review them.

When campaigning for Labour leader, Keir Starmer proudly declared he "carried the can" for any mistakes at the CPS during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions. Yet this rhetoric now rings hollow as his past catches up with him over the Post Office scandal.

Despite boasting of shouldering responsibility at the CPS, Starmer claims ignorance of prosecutions his organisation brought based on Horizon's defective data. This is the antithesis of "carrying the can."

The reality is Starmer was happy to take credit for CPS victories under his watch. However, when serious mistakes emerge that destroyed innocent lives, he pretends a leadership role meant he knew nothing. A telling double standard.

With only 93 wrongful convictions overturned so far, Starmer's failure to properly oversee Post Office prosecutions has real consequences. His inaction, or willful blindness, allowed this miscarriage of justice to occur on his watch.

If Starmer truly wishes to take responsibility as promised, he must own up to improper oversight rather than pleading ignorance. Justice demands transparency, not evasive excuses. There are many questions about his tenure as Director of public prosecutions, not just with this recent miscarriage of justice but with other extremely important life-changing cases such as the Julian Assange scandal

For those still seeking redress, Starmer's refusal to "carry the can" pours salt on deep wounds. His hollow rhetoric rings false while victims still suffer. Leadership means acknowledging hard truths, not shirking responsibility when convenient. Starmer fails this test.

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