Thread by @nickwallis

Post Office annual report and accounts just dropped - this is the delayed 2019/2020 accounts which is when the Post Office were throwing the kitchen sink at the High Court litigation - the numbers and comments should be interesting:

corporate.postoffice.co.uk/secure-corpora…

"we recorded a statutory loss of £307 million, largely because of the cost of settling the Postmaster litigation in December 2019 and the related legal costs; £153 million we have allocated towards the Historical Shortfall Scheme settlements...

… Chief Executive Officer Nick Read said: “Maximising the potential of Postmasters should be the priority and we should behave accordingly. Sadly, this has not always been the case...

"The Post Office does not have a business without those working hard in branches every day, serving communities across the United Kingdom. Genuine value, for a business such as the Post Office, and one with an overarching social and public purpose, should not solely...

… be represented by its ability to generate profit [lucky!], important though that is. The real test is whether the business model enables our Postmasters to thrive – on that metric, we have more to do...

… . To be successful, we must see this as a partnership above all else – one in which we are preoccupied only by what helps our Postmasters thrive.”

This from Tim Parker, Chairman, who signed off on the Post Office’s disastrous strategy of trying to dismiss and crush the claimants case, using staff who tried to mislead the courts:

"As a Board, we accept that this period has also been an extraordinarily painful one...

… as we have had to face up to the shortcomings of the business in its dealings with some Postmasters in preceding years. On behalf of the Post Office, I would again like to express my sincere apology to those affected….

… We will, of course, honour the commitments we have made in settling the litigation [not sure why he feels the need to make a virtue of this - might the PO have tried to get round them?]....

… We have established an Historical Matter Business Unit to focus on ensuring that the affected Postmasters receive redress. We understand the need for the Post Office to go much further in addressing the underlying flaws...

… and imbalances, and to make sure that our systems are fit for purpose."

Back to the CEO:

"I am pleased to be the new Chief Executive of a business with the customer trust, social relevance, and commercial promise which the Post Office has in abundance. However, this sense of excitement is tempered by the group litigation...

…. between some Postmasters and Post Office Limited which was still continuing as I joined. The litigation needed addressing, and with the support of our shareholder, in December 2019, we were pleased to be able to reach a joint settlement...

… with the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance. Apologising publicly to the Postmasters affected and to enable the redress they deserve is as important as the settlement."

This is interesting - still Nick Read:

"there is a cultural dissonance within Post Office. There is, and has been, a divide in the way the business operates, borne of a misunderstanding of the relationship between Post Office Limited and Postmasters...

… Maximising the potential of Postmasters should be the priority and we should behave accordingly. Sadly, this has not always been the case.
For historical reasons, safeguarding and promoting the interests of our Postmasters...

… was not given enough priority. The urgent task is to emerge from this scandal with clarity that Postmasters are at the heart of this business.”

He’s got a lot to do. Anecdotally most Post Office folk still think the SPMs are guilty. That’s how they prosecuted so...

… many and tried to cover it up. They were led to believe untill 11 Dec 2019 that they were either thieves or potential thieves and treated them accordingly.

"To be successful, we must see this as a partnership above all else one in which we are preoccupied only by what helps our Postmasters thrive. Our understanding and interpretation of the business model needs to be turned on its head.”

Wow...

… at least he recognises what his board, ministers, civil servants and his predecessor failed to notice.

The PO’s business model is fucked.

"I began my career in the army where I learned that ‘to serve is to lead’. We owe our Subpostmasters the same commitment and I thank them..

… and the colleagues that support them, for all they do for their communities each and every day.
Our purpose now, and for the years to come, is to serve.”

This is a really strong message to the staff of the Post Office. I doubt they’ll listen...

… I come from a military family and I’m a big fan of the values military service instils. Nick Read ought to talk to former RAF man @CastletonLee and former RAF man Richard Roll who were instrumental in exposing the Post Office’s appalling behaviour.

He also probably...

@CastletonLee …ought to think about the number of lives cut short by the actions of Post Office staff.

But not too hard, obviously. He’s got a business to run...

@threadreaderapp unroll