A former Cabinet minister has demanded that Sir Keir Starmer’s role in the Post Office scandal is investigated by the Ministry of Justice.
David Jones, a Conservative former Brexit minister, called for a review in the decisions made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the prosecutions of sub-postmasters.
Most of the 900 cases were brought in private prosecutions by the Post Office but 11 have been identified as coming from the CPS including three when Sir Keir was Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and in charge.
Others have pointed out that the DPP has the power to intervene without any need for referal in private cases but Sir Keir did not use this power.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Mr Jones said: “For part of that period Starmer was in charge and we need to know how involved he was in the decisions to prosecute because as DPP he should have been.”
Earlier in the House, Mr Jones praised the Government’s decision to bring forward a Bill to exhonerate all those caught up in the prosecutions.
More than 200 former sub-postmasters were sent to prison because of a fault in the Horison softwware being used by the Post Office which created thousands of pounds worth in shortfalls on their takings.
At least four suicides have been linked to the scandal which has seen the former chief executive Paula Vennells being forced to hand back her CBE.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey to quit as party leader and hand back his knighthood over his failures to take the issue seriously when he was minister for the post office in 2012.
Mr Jones told the Commons: “The Government have made exactly the correct decision, given the balance of mischief.”
He went on: “Can [the post office minister Kevin Hollinrake] say whether the convictions to be quashed under the process he has announced today will include not only those prosecuted by the Post Office itself but those prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service?
“On the latter, will the Ministry of Justice review the decision-making process prior to the decision to prosecute?”
Mr Hollinrake confirmed all convictions including those prosecuted by the CPS will be overturned.
He went on: “The answer to my right honourable Friend’s question is yes, and it is only right that we look at what happened.
“As I say, the Lord Chancellor (Alex Chalk) is looking at the whole issue of private prosecutions and how those cases were put together and prosecuted.”
But Labour have disputed whether Sir Keir has questions to answer on this issue.
A spokesman said: “During Keir’s time as Chief Prosecutor no cases relating to Horizon were brought to his desk.
“The scandal that’s emerged is one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history and Labour has been calling for swift exoneration and compensation for the victims.
“It’s vital that all action is taken to right these wrongs. Labour’s focus is on playing our part in making sure this injustice is never repeated.”
Three cases (two in 2009 and one in 2012) out of the 11 identified by the CPS were during Starmer’s tenure.
