Paula Vennells was done the other week, the Post Office Inquiry is now questioning associates and others - thread 3

[nauticant]

A continuation of this thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5081592-paula-vennels-being-questioned-at-the-post-office-inquiry-followed-by-others-thread-2

When the hearings are going on, live-streaming can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/@postofficehorizonitinquiry947/featured

All of the previous hearings can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/@postofficehorizonitinquiry947/videos

I'm just wondering whether any SPM's watching this will be laughing or crying?

I think this day of the enquiry is going to be forever known as "Fireworks Friday"

From Post Office Scandal blog by Nick Wallis, 2018:

The National Federation of Subpostmasters, once an actual trade union, now described as an independent organisation, is anything but. It is wholly in the pocket and pay of the Post Office and it is contractually obliged not to do or say anything which could do anything “materially detrimental to the Post Office”.

I want to deal with this in detail because it has really been bugging me for some time. If ever there has been an organisation which has utterly failed its members, it is the NFSP.

https://www.postofficescandal.uk/newsletter/day-6-write-up-the-post-office-speaks/

I feel for this man's family and colleagues, trying to ever get a word in.

There's a sense here that he was an embodiment of the NFSP and what was of benefit to him was necessarily of benefit to the NFSP, and so would also benefit the subpostmasters.

He is super aggressive.

I don't think he has sought legal advice before coming to this inquiry.

I don't know if I can stand listening to him much longer. He doesn't seem capable of behaving appropriately and just answering the questions.

His point about self-employed people not being eligible to join a union is piffle for a start. Actors are self-employed but they can still join Equity.

GT can't seem to process the content of Blake's questions in any kind of neutral or rational way.

I wonder whether Sir Wyn will intervene at any point.

He’s the very definition of ‘mansplaining', isn’t he?

And there's a (self-employed) freelancers' trade union!

I was going to say the same.

He"s speaking like we, and the people at the Inquiry, don't know what a Post Office is.

He is a really hostile witness

Sir Huw wants him to wrap up! 🤣🤣

What on earth is that bit about the blood of him and Paula about?

Sir Wyn.

'Paula and Moya'. Cosy.

Mm, this is like every single conversation with my mother.

Me: Do you need me to get you some more milk?
DM: <starts talking>
...
DM: <still talking>
...
DM: <still talking>
...
DM: ... and so the dog got its claws cut, and that's why.

Me: So, do you need me to get you some more milk?
DM: <indignantly> "I've just told you that!"

[ETA punctuation]

He is really losing all sense of decorum.

Hangs head in shame 😞

I’ve just moved from my iPad to my PC to carry on watching, and my search engine now automatically puts up the link to the Horizon Inquiry with the comment 'you visit often' 😂

I think I'm turning into your mum

This thread is teaching me brevity!

Kindly stand in the corner, facing the wall and think about what you've done. Thank you.

Here's we go ...

Me too!

I live in terror of it, because I know what it's like for the poor person on the receiving end!

Is it just me, or has the signal cut?