Post Office inquiry witnesses driven by ‘self-preservation’, says Vennells lawyer

Former CEO’s legal team tells inquiry to treat evidence cautiously, saying Jo Swinson ‘sought to point the finger’

Paula Vennells’ legal team has told the Horizon IT inquiry to treat the evidence of some witnesses “cautiously”, as a desire for “self-preservation” means that they were trying to scapegoat the former Post Office chief executive for the scandal.

Samantha Leek KC, delivering the closing statement on behalf of Vennells to the public inquiry on Tuesday, said that as Vennells has become a high-profile figure in the scandal others have tried to “point the finger at her”.