A woman who had a long career in the Post Office has announced her intention to challenge Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, in the next general election. Yvonne Tracey, who resides in Sir Ed’s constituency in southwest London, is determined not to let him run unopposed. Ms. Tracey was deeply affected by the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which shed light on the plight of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses who were wrongly held accountable for accounting errors due to faulty software. She believes that those affected by the Horizon IT scandal are still not receiving the truth and justice they deserve.
Yvonne Tracey is motivated by the injustice she witnessed during her time at the Post Office and her desire to assist those affected by the Horizon IT scandal. She feels compelled to take action and advocate for sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses who have had their lives ruined by this scandal. According to Ms. Tracey, one sub-postmaster in Sir Ed Davey’s constituency lost his home, his business, and even attempted to take his own life multiple times. Despite his desperate pleas for help, he was turned away, refused, and ignored by Sir Ed.
The Liberal Democrats have responded to Ms. Tracey’s claims by stating that the sub-postmaster in question lived outside Sir Ed Davey’s constituency, making it difficult for him to be directly involved in the case. However, Ms. Tracey remains committed to bringing attention to this scandal during the upcoming election campaign. She believes that the public’s anger regarding this issue will not dissipate quickly and emphasizes the urgency of providing compensation and justice to those affected.
In 2022, Yvonne Tracey was elected to Kingston Council, where she represents the local residents group. However, the major political parties in Kingston accused her group of Islamophobia and divisive campaigning, which resulted in legal action. Despite these challenges, Ms. Tracey remains undeterred and is determined to use her position to fight for justice and hold those responsible accountable.
Initially, Sir Ed Davey refused to meet sub-postmaster Alan Bates, the person after whom the ITV drama is named. However, he eventually did meet with Mr. Bates and, following their meeting, instructed his officials to address the concerns raised by the sub-postmaster. Sir Ed acknowledges that at the time, he was unaware of the extent to which the Post Office was deceiving him and other ministers. He believes that the Post Office, as well as the National Federation of Postmasters, lied to him. These revelations have sparked controversy, with Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA union for civil servants, expressing outrage at Sir Ed’s comments and calling for him to provide evidence to support his accusations.
Arfan Aslam, a former sub-postmaster, vividly remembers the excitement and pride he felt when he first embarked on his career. However, within weeks, his excitement turned into a nightmare. Arfan was arrested and taken out of his post office in handcuffs, which shattered his dreams and devastated his family. After serving his sentence, Arfan faced the challenge of repaying over £53,000 while struggling to find employment and relying on benefits. With the Horizon scandal gaining national attention, Arfan hopes to receive compensation and have his conviction overturned. He acknowledges that financial compensation will never erase the pain and suffering he endured for 22 years.
Yvonne Tracey’s decision to stand against Sir Ed Davey in the next general election reflects her commitment to advocating for justice and compensation for those affected by the Horizon IT scandal. She believes that the anger among the public regarding this issue will persist throughout the election campaign. With support from sub-postmasters like Arfan Aslam, she hopes to bring awareness to their plight and ensure that they receive the truth, justice, and compensation they deserve.
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