Devendra Kumar
Lord David Cameron, the former British prime minister, has come under scrutiny for his response to the Horizon scandal, which involves a miscarriage of justice perpetrated by the Post Office against hundreds of subpostmasters. In an interview on Sunday, Cameron claimed that he couldn’t recall being briefed about the issue in any detail, stating, “I don’t recall in any detail being briefed or being aware of the scale of this issue. We’ve got to get to the bottom of it, and that’s what inquiries do.”
Cameron went on to express his deep regret over the situation, saying, “This is an appalling miscarriage of justice and anyone who’s been involved in government in any way over the last 20 years has got to be extremely sorry, as I am, about what has happened.” However, his statement raised eyebrows, as some critics argue that his apology should be more heartfelt and take greater responsibility for the actions of his government.
Trevor Phillips, the host of the Sunday Morning program, pressed Cameron on what action he took to address the issue during his tenure as prime minister, which spanned from 2010 to 2016. Cameron responded by stating that as a minister, he couldn’t be expected to remember every letter and piece of paper put in front of him. This response has been met with skepticism, with some arguing that Cameron’s lack of memory or accountability is unacceptable.
The controversy has also centered around Sir Ed Davey, the former postal affairs minister and now Liberal Democrat leader, who has refused to apologize for his role in the scandal. Cameron, however, did express his disdain for the situation, stating, “We’ve got to get to the bottom of who is responsible for what and who should be accountable.”
Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake has taken a more extreme stance, calling for those found responsible for the scandal to face jail time as a means of deterring future wrongdoing. Cameron, while not going as far, argued that anyone found to have broken the law “should face criminal charges.” He emphasized the need for an independent judicial system to ensure that those responsible for the scandal are held accountable.
Cameron’s comments have been met with a mix of reactions, with some calling for greater accountability and others arguing that his apology was sufficient. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether Cameron’s words will be enough to restore public trust in his government’s handling of the Horizon scandal.