Vennells said yesterday she would return the award given to her in 2019 as the fallout from ITV's drama about the scandal continued to grow.
Vennells is just one of the highprofile figures caught up in the scandal since the drama first aired on 1 January. Others under scrutiny include the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, and other former postal affairs ministers. Pressure has also grown on senior figures at the technology company Fujitsu, which has been called to testify next week in front of the Commons business committee.
Vennells said yesterday she was "truly sorry for the devastation caused to the subpostmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon [accounting software] system".
Meanwhile, ministers are still trying to decide how best to speed up the compensation scheme and are considering passing a bill to issue mass exonerations for hundreds of people whose convictions have still not been quashed.
Lawyers acting for many of the victims said they had been contacted by more than 100 people seeking legal advice since the broadcast of the four-part drama.
Alex Chalk, the justice secretary, told MPs yesterday he expected to make an announcement shortly on how best to accelerate the pardons and the payouts.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Buying British Can Labour's defence plans spur growth?
Even in a room full of generals from around the world decked in military braid, the arrival of the prime minister causes a stir.
NatWest to absorb £24m cost of aborted "Tell Sid' ad campaign
NatWest was forced to spend £24m on the former Conservative government's aborted \"Tell Sid\"-style campaign featuring Sir Trevor McDonald, which would have resulted in a chunk of the bank's state-owned shares being sold to the general public in a highly anticipated privatisation drive.
The green petrostate How Norway is both climate hero and carbon villain
The average Norwegian is more likely than anyone else to drive to work in an electric car and warm their home with a heat pump.
Rocky role Navy chief who ran ship aground to thwart China
More than 25 years ago the BRP Sierra Madre was sent off for one final, secret, voyage. In the darkness of night the Philippine navy ship sailed from Manila Bay into the remote waters of the South China Sea. Then, to the surprise of many, it ran aground. And it has not moved since.
Bangladesh Protests turn into 'movement against a dictator'
Hasan still has the metal pellets police fired at him lodged deep in his bones. Fearful that he will join the growing ranks of those thrown behind bars by the state for participating in protests that have swept Bangladesh this month, Hasan has been in hiding for a week in \"constant panic and trauma\".
'Not playing around Whirlwind week for vice-president, both on and off the stage
The telephone line was a little fuzzy, and the voice on the end gravelly from several days of Covid isolation. Yet the poignancy of the message, and the moment itself, could not have been clearer: \"I'm watching you kid. I love you,\" the speaker said.
Protest vote Support for Harris held back until she halts 'funding of Gaza war'
The protest movement that sought to use the Democratic primaries to pressure Joe Biden to shift his policy on Israel and Gaza breathed a sigh of relief when he ended his bid for re-election, but they are not ready to promise support for Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Vice-president 'disrespectful' on Gaza, says Trump as he meets Netanyahu
Donald Trump called Kamala Harris's statement on the Gaza war \"disrespectful\" last night as he met the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Florida to discuss the conflict.
Brat power Charli Xcx's path from Myspace to White House
As someone outside the mainstream for much of her early career, Charli xcx has come a long way.
Badenoch accuses Tory leadership race rival of 'dirty tricks'
Kemi Badenoch has accused one of her Conservative leadership rivals of a dirty tricks campaign as she continues to consider a bid for the top job.
