A DORSET MP has called for former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to have her CBE removed.

Chris Loder (Con, West Dorset) has written to Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden, to request Mrs Vennells by referred to the Honours Forfeiture Committee.

It comes as backlash continues into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, which saw hundreds of sub-postmasters and staff accused of stealing money from accounts at their branches – when in fact it was due to a software error.

Among them was Wincanton woman Tracey Merritt – a former postmistress at Yetminster – who said she was left suicidal after being caught up in the scandal.

An ITV dramatisation of the saga, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, has brought the scandal back into the public eye – and prompted calls for Mrs Vennells, who was chief executive officers of Post Office Ltd from 2012 to 2019, to lose her honour.

Click here to read Chris Loder’s letter to Oliver Dowden in full (opens in new window)

Click above the image to read Chris Loder MP’s letter in full (opens in new window)

She was in charge throughout much of the controversial claims, which surrounded the Horizon system, when the Post Office denied there were any issues – and repeatedly failed to fully disclose known problems.

“This institutional scandal has sickened me since being in Parliament and I will stop at nothing until we get justice for those innocent sub-postmasters and staff,” Mr Loder wrote.

A number of Post Office workers were sent to jail after being convicted of stealing money – which in fact was lost due to Horizon errors.

READ MORE: Former Yetminster postmistress was left suicidal by Post Office Horizon IT scandal

Tragically, a number of others committed suicide as they endured the accusations and prosecution.

“I have spoken in the House of Commons on numerous occasions about this scandal and while progress has been made, it needs to be quicker,” Mr Loder went on.

“This includes the removal of Paul Vennell’s CBE, which itself serves as an insult to all those who have suffered so much, including those in my constituency.”

ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office told the story of the Horizon scandal. Picture: ITV

Mrs Vennells was awarded the CBE in the 2019 New Years Honours for services to the Post Office and to charity.

Post Office minister, Kevin Hollinrake (Con, Thirsk and Malton), has told MPs the government is considering ways to fast-track the appeals of hundreds of sub-postmasters and Post Office staff affected by the scandal.

More than 700 people were jailed or found guilty of false accounting and theft because of the faulty software, while just 93 have so far seen their convictions overturned.

The Post Office said as of December, 25 people had received £600,000 in compensation, with offers made to 2,417 current or former sub-postmasters as part of a Horizon Shortfall Scheme.

Nick Read, the current Post Office chief executive, said: “Our efforts to rectify the wrongs of the past include paying full and fair compensation supported by our shareholder, the UK Government.

“To date, we have paid over £120 million in compensation.

“We hope the ITV drama will raise further awareness and encourage anyone affected who has not yet come forward to seek the redress and compensation they deserve.”