Keir Starmer says Post Office should lose prosecution powers after Horizon scandal

Labour has called for prosecution powers to be stripped from the Post Office and previous convictions looked at again following the Horizon scandal.More than 700 Post Office branch managers were wrongfully prosecuted for alleged fraud due to a faulty IT system as part of what has been described as one of the greatest injustices in British history.The call comes as MPs plan to raise the Horizon scandal in the Commons as Parliament returns this week.Tory backbencher David Davis and Labour MP Kevan Jones are pushing for an emergency debate after an ITV drama returned the widespread miscarriage of justice to the spotlight.Labour leader Keir Starmer said during a visit to Loughborough on Monday morning: “I think that the prosecution should be taken out of the hands of the Post Office and given to the Crown Prosecution Service.“I used to run the Crown Prosecution Service, we’ve prosecuted for other departments, we can do it here – that should be done straight away.“And these convictions, the remaining convictions need to be looked at en masse.”He added: “The Government could pass legislation, so obviously we’d support that if they did.“It might be possible to get these cases back before the Court of Appeal quickly – I’ve done that when I was a prosecutor – but whichever way it’s done, these convictions need to be looked at.”Justice Secretary Alex Chalk is expected to meet Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake on Monday to discuss how to help the convicted branch managers clear their names.It comes as calls grow for former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells to hand back her CBE and measures to be introduced to secure redress for the victims.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Starmer have so far resisted backing calls for