and this not ed davey thing. and this is not just davey . this just about ed davey. who about all those ministers who might have been responsible . might have been responsible. there's no suggestion who was corruption at a ministerial level , but that may be tougher corruption at a ministerial level, but that may be tougher. questions were not asked . this questions were not asked. this has to be a wake up call to politicians that when people are saying look , there's saying to them, look, there's been terrible miscarriage of been a terrible miscarriage of justice here, they to justice here, that they have to work harder dig the work far harder to dig out the truth . truth. >> yeah, i think it should. also, i think you make very >> yeah, i think it should. also, point,; you make very >> yeah, i think it should. also, point, matthew.e very >> yeah, i think it should. also, point, matthew.e should good point, matthew. it should also wake this also be a wake up call to this relentless march of technology in lives . yes, everyone in our lives. yes, everyone thinks is inf

laughter that was serie ed davey.campaign mode. he's warned that he'll resist pressure from the conservatives, for his candidates to stand down at the election to avoid splitting the right—wing vote. no, the truth is, the tories are terrified. yes, in the new year, the special pleading has already started. "oh, please don't stand here, please don't stand there. i'm one of the nice guys, i believe in all everything that you believe in." you've all broken britain. you're all responsible. so, there's no special deals. we stand on every single seat in england, scotland and wales. reform party leader richard tice. live now to our political correspondent peter saull. this vote splitting of the right—wing is a real problem for the conservatives, isn't it? yes. conservatives, isn't it? yes, potentially. _ conservatives, isn't it? yes, potentially, or— conservatives, isn't it? yes, potentially, or the _ conservatives, isn't it? yes, potentially, or the richard i conservatives, isn't it? yes, i potentially, or the richard tice

he did, but i'm not picking on ed davey, i think- not picking on ed davey, i think you find that withofficials and i think a lot of it has got to do with the briefing that the officials and post office gave them over the years. bud officials and post office gave them over the years-— officials and post office gave them over the years. and what about paula vennells? i — over the years. and what about paula vennells? i know— over the years. and what about paula vennells? i know it's _ over the years. and what about paula vennells? i know it's not _ over the years. and what about paula vennells? i know it's notjust - vennells? i know it's notjust down to one person, you are smiling there, she refused to believe there was any problem or refuse to accept there was any problem. on the question is, should she be giving back her cbe? that seems to be a very live issue for the prime minister. very live issue for the prime minister-— very live issue for the prime minister. �*, ., , , minister. it's not 'ust should she rive minister. it's not 'ust should she live it minister. it's not 'ust shoul

that is going to ed davey. he's to overshadow ed davey.'s come and now in come out and said, now in response that letter that response to that letter that alex's , uh, referring he's alex's, uh, referring to, he's basically come and said that basically come out and said that he feels essentially he feels he was essentially misled people, why misled by people, and that's why he down, uh, meeting alan he turned down, uh, meeting alan bates that in time. can bates at that point in time. can can he turn that around that because this horizon thing has gone but now it's gone on for years. but now it's very much on the public conscience, the dramas, the drama week really drama this week is really brought hasn't it? brought it home, hasn't it? >> it's kind of created alan >> and it's kind of created alan bates into a, into a national hero. and think, most hero. and i think, yes, the most important consequence isn't going be the head of the post going to be the head of the post office time. whether she going to be the head of the post office back w

says thank for davey.since 2001, when the royal set up as royal mail was set up as a pubuc royal mail was set up as a public limited company, the government as only government as its only shareholder government has adopted an arm's length relationship with the company, so it has the commercial freedom to run its business. the integrity of the post office horizon is an operational horizon system is an operational and contractual matter for the pol, and not the government. basically, off basically, he's shoved it off now he's saying he took terrible advice this is everyone's fault. apart from his does this say a lot about the bloke he potentially, if we go the same way the old coalition days, way as the old coalition days, could well end up being our deputy could deputy prime minister. he could end up being deputy prime minister >> i you're absolutely >> i suppose. you're absolutely right this right there. and i think this letter really puts a big question mark over his fitness to hold , uh, public office. t

that was ed davey. ed davey has got a lot to answer for.e midst of the post office debacle, where more than 700 branch operators were wrongly prosecuted . between 1999 wrongly prosecuted. between 1999 and 2015, during his tenure, ed was approached by postmaster alan bates , whom he dismissed alan bates, whom he dismissed and told him that there was nothing wrong with the horizon it system . ed told him, i don't it system. ed told him, i don't believe the meeting would serve any purpose . ed now blames the any purpose. ed now blames the post office for apparently not telling him the truth, which shows that he was either incompetent or gullible given the clear alarm bells sounding at the time . well, even now, at the time. well, even now, knowing the full situation, he still refuses not only to apologise, but also refuses to resign , which is ironic as he's resign, which is ironic as he's repeatedly called for others to do so for arguably a lot less in the last five years, ed has called ministers, mps, bbc executives and in fact he even calle

let's see if ed davey the if not, i'm davey does the same.e'll be a lot of people reminding him. >> and finally, on this >> okay. and finally, on this topic, this does sir topic, alan says this does sir ed further because he was ed davey further because he was lied by the post office, he lied to by the post office, he should not any blame should not shoulder any blame for the injustice that has taken place surely had a duty of place. surely he had a duty of care to the post office employees to carry his own employees to carry out his own investigation into those allegations at the time, bob seely, nodding so hard his head might drop off next week. bob, see you. thank you very much for coming in, chopper. superb as even coming in, chopper. superb as ever. you get lots more on that story on website thanks story on our website and thanks to you, gbnews.com is the fastest growing national news website country . it's got website in the country. it's got breaking news and all the brilliant analysis you've come to expect from gb news. so thank you t

um, but also ed davey.s of authority at the time, he was the post office um, minister at the time, and he's been accused of ministerial decisions being , ministerial decisions being, quote, wicked and, uh, incompetent and wicked. um, so i think that those who do bear response ability for not looking at the red flags, not taking concerns seriously because it looks as if ed davey just trusted the post office's word for it. and didn't really look into things as he should have done.i into things as he should have done. i think those people need to be properly held to account and also that compensation needs to these people as to be paid to these people as quickly possible because quickly as possible, because a lot people were lot of the people who were involved it's involved in this scandal, it's a lot , a 700 people who lot of people, a 700 people who were, know , convicted for were, you know, convicted for this , um, 736 people who've had this, um, 736 people who've had their lives disrupted by this. and that

ed davey who's your union? jack? ed davey ed . yeah. any particular ed davey. yeah.g the bills at the post office. yeah. >> and think he will be >> and you think he will be pressured to hand back that? >> think he'll last the >> i don't think he'll last the yeah >> i don't think he'll last the year. does, if he year. i mean, if he does, if he if he it out. if he eats it out. >> election, though, if he gets that far to the election and goodness that may be at goodness knows that may be at the end of the year, it may even drag time next yeah >> but if makes yeah >> but if makes to the >> but if he makes it to the election, he'll be election, i think he'll be booted out. right. >> well, i think i've got to pick, though it's been pick, even though it's been a terrible sir ed davey, terrible week for sir ed davey, he hasn't come out and shining colours. i've got to sadiq colours. i've got to pick sadiq khan because he's. how many khan because he's he's. how many terms is it now? two terms. he's just going on. >> know, thought you >> do you know, i thought you had to leave

ed davey.t resigning. he's, um , coming out with platitudes. um, coming out with platitudes. what do you make of that? what a pathetic sight. >> martin is. is live there on tv, snivelling, snivelling away. look, over 700 people got convicted of these offences. you know , at any stage of that, of know, at any stage of that, of that investigation, a red flag should have appeared. martin, you think if 700 people had been convicted, somebody say, oh, there's something wrong here. and he didn't, he said and he didn't, and he said nothing until today. as far as i'm concerned , the man should i'm concerned, the man should hang his in shame. he hang his head in shame. he should. uh, should should. he should, uh, he should go chamber this afternoon go in the chamber this afternoon and um that's if he's and apologise. um that's if he's here at work. uh, it's a pathetic. it's a grovelling, nothing and like i say, nothing apology. and like i say, if he did resign, nobody notice anyway. >> okay, is that nec

now for ed davey. it's interesting . it davey. it's interesting.wasn't just ed davey his boss was vince cable. he was then followed by norman lamb and jo swinson , who the labour mp there swinson, who the labour mp there mentioned. i mean, they're all lib dems and as you say , andrew lib dems and as you say, andrew ed davey, specialist in calling for people to resign, he's hidden behind a party spokesman over this. we have yet to see him personally apologise, take the blame for being misled as he claims he was. but but he was responsive while he was the minister for postal affairs. and there are if i was in the lib dems, god forbid , um, i would be dems, god forbid, um, i would be very worried at having him as a leader for coming up to in an election year, going to go away, is it? >> no, i don't see how anyone can vote lib dem with ed davey as the leader. what about his defence that he was misled by the post office? perhaps he's got to show us who misled him . got to show us who misled him. because my argument would be. look hang on, minister, you'

uh ed davey was points. first. uh ed davey was post office minister.party will be responsible for deciding whether continue to whether they should continue to be him. but as you say, be led by him. but as you say, there's another knight who also has a role here. keir has a role here. sir keir starmer of public starmer was director of public prosecutions . he could have had prosecutions. he could have had at any time a law from at any time under a law from 1985 taken over these prosecutions and decided that they were not viable , that there they were not viable, that there wasn't the evidence that the post office was saying and scrapped them . and he didn't. scrapped them. and he didn't. and i think questions need to be asked of too. so you are asked of him, too. so you are right you said the leader right when you said the leader of opposition earlier, of the opposition earlier, because starmer has because i think keir starmer has questions answer as well, questions to answer as well, although wise? although is that wise? >> after event, the >> after th

and if this revelation had known when ed davey was had been known when ed davey was the minister, hee been required to expected to resign from his ministerial role . and so i don't think it's role. and so i don't think it's unreasonable for people, even though, constitutionally speaking, there's no particular reason now reason why he should resign now as of the liberal as leader of the liberal democrats from more and democrats from a more evil and ethical perspective, from a position of integrity and honoun position of integrity and honour, things that we don't hear from many hear very much about from many politicians, particularly liberal democrat politicians today , that on its own should be today, that on its own should be reason enough for him to consider his position. >> yeah, and i've got to say, um, i mean, graham has just said michelle, i've watched that whole, um, mr bates versus the post office, and i've cried at the injustice . and i think that the injustice. and i think that sums up what a lot of other people feel . lee says one of the people feel. lee says one of the vie

ed davey was ersonal coalition government. ed davey was personal affairs _ coalition government.on government. ed davey was personal affairs -- postal— coalition government. ed davey was personal affairs -- postal affairs - personal affairs —— postal affairs minister. he has been widely criticised because he initially turned down a meeting with alan bates, one of the campaigners. ed davey would say to that that he was then, several months later, the first postal affairs minister to meet with alan bates. he met him months later in october 2010. he has been questioned extensively about this, about what he knew and his response has been i wish i knew then what we all know now. he described it as a conspiracy on a huge scale with the post office lying to victims, and ministers. there were are questions about exactly what he knew at what time and as leader of the liberal democrats, there have been numerous post office ministers over the decades and given the time that he was in office and the prominence of his role at the moment, he is still facing a lot of questions. moment, he is st

so can ed davey of judgement. so can ed davey survive as leader of the liberal democrats ?e me your thoughts democrats? give me your thoughts farage at gbnews.com. i don't think he can. i think the pressure upon him is going to become simply intolerable. it will be a massive distraction from everything the lib dems try to do. and let's face it, under his leadership , they're doing his leadership, they're doing pretty poorly anyway, which ed tice, leader of reform, his party now consistently above the liberal democrats in the polls, now now it's been a day of again , huge news over this horizon . , huge news over this horizon. subpostmaster and mistress scandal . and i'm joined by our scandal. and i'm joined by our political editor, chris hope to go through it. so yesterday , go through it. so yesterday, chris, we were debating on the show , should there be a blanket show, should there be a blanket exemption . and i made the point exemption. and i made the point that i'm generally not for these things, but for once, i think given the passage of time and the age of many invol

ed davey- my — davey. -- sir ed davey. order. ed davey. my constituent _ davey. -- sir ed davey.rrived and during her months in hospital since, she has been _ months in hospital since, she has been dropped badly multiple times, left stuck— been dropped badly multiple times, left stuck in her bed for days at length — left stuck in her bed for days at length and has even been told to soil herself when there is no want to take _ soil herself when there is no want to take her— soil herself when there is no want to take her to the toilet. before all this, — to take her to the toilet. before allthis, millie to take her to the toilet. before all this, millie was living independently and working. the prospect— independently and working. the prospect of hope returning to work is being _ prospect of hope returning to work is being destroyed by the crisis in the nhs — is being destroyed by the crisis in the nhs and care system —— the prospect— the nhs and care system —— the prospect of— the nhs and care system —— the prospect of her returning to work. i'm prospect of her returning to work.

what was happening before and the role of ed davey ed davey , the role of ed davey ed davey, he willt. but was he not lied to by post office management? >> and therefore who could blame him? he was advised by by by civil there's nothing civil servants. there's nothing to here. to see here. >> oh, his job is to make decisions. hisjob is to listen decisions. his job is to listen to advice and either take it or reject it. when bates went to alan bates went to go and see him. um, he should have said or appued him. um, he should have said or applied to see him . yeah. i'll applied to see him. yeah. i'll give this guy a go and let's have a look at it. don't close your damn fool. he's in your mind. damn fool. he's in trouble. and of course, some of the stuff that nigel farage is doing when was working doing on him when he was working at, uh, i can't think of that big solicitors company. oh, that's right, but these were the solicitors represented the solicitors who represented the post yes. and this post office. oh, yes. and this is big, big story to is a big, big, big story to come. >> but

we have seen questions for lib dem leader ed davey— questions for lib dem leader ed davey who was more who was more than —— one of more than a — davey who was more than —— one of more than a dozen post office ministers _ more than a dozen post office ministers in this period. some have pondered _ ministers in this period. some have pondered labour leader keir starmer's role as director of public prosecutions for england and wales. the vast _ prosecutions for england and wales. the vast majority of prosecutions were _ the vast majority of prosecutions were private prosecutions but some were private prosecutions but some were looked at by the crown prosecution service, around a dozen, three _ prosecution service, around a dozen, three of— prosecution service, around a dozen, three of them in keir starmer's time _ three of them in keir starmer's time he — three of them in keir starmer's time. he says they never reached his desi<~ _ time. he says they never reached his desi<~ during— time. he says they never reached his desk. during his time leading the crown— desk. during his time leading

questions are now being asked about how the lib dem leader, sir ed davey , handled the sir ed davey,led the scandal when he was a minister in the coalition government between 2010 and 2012. as the postal affairs minister, ed davey was accused of refusing to meet alan bates , the meet alan bates, the subpostmaster who campaign to expose the scandal , subpostmaster who campaign to expose the scandal, which he denies . he expose the scandal, which he denies. he says he was misled by the post office executives. i wish i'd known then what we all know now. >> the post office was lying on an industrial scale to me. another ministers, and when i met alan bates and listened to his concerns, i put those concerns to the officials in my department, went to the post to office the national federation office the national federation of postmasters , and it's clear of postmasters, and it's clear they all were lying to me. >> treasury minister bim afolami says the government is taking this seriously , despite this seriously, despite criticism over how long it's taking. it's not fair that it's taken th

what was happening before and the role of ed davey ed davey , the role of ed davey ed davey, he willeat. but was he not lied to by post office management? >> and therefore who could blame him? he was advised by by by civil there's nothing civil servants. there's nothing to here. to see here. >> oh, his job is to make decisions. hisjob is to listen decisions. his job is to listen to advice and either take it or reject it. when bates went to alan bates went to go and see him. um, he should have said or appued him. um, he should have said or applied to see him . yeah. i'll applied to see him. yeah. i'll give this guy a go and let's have a look at it. don't close your damn fool. he's in your mind. damn fool. he's in trouble. and of course, some of the stuff that nigel farage is doing when was working doing on him when he was working at, uh, i can't think of that big solicitors company. oh, that's right, but these were the solicitors represented the solicitors who represented the post yes. and this post office. oh, yes. and this is big, big story to is a big, big, big story to come. >> bu

who's the woman who is standing in kingston against ed davey think a lot davey. with a grandson who's a councillor in the area and they said they're not in the business of losing. >> wow. >> wow. >> you m she m— >> do you think she could take the sir davey. >> do you think she could take the well, sir davey. >> do you think she could take the well, people davey. >> do you think she could take the well, people have fey. >> do you think she could take the well, people have been making >> well, people have been making comparisons lewis , the comparisons to martin lewis, the guy that campaigned on the anti—sleaze . yeah. um, anti—sleaze ticket. yeah. um, and he's got a 15,000 and it's not. he's got a 15,000 majority. i think , in that area . majority. i think, in that area. uh, but we shall see. >> martin bell . >> martin bell. >> martin bell. >> yeah. martin bell, the man. martin bell. >> martin my old friend . yeah. >> well, john, that's a great nomination. >> linda, how about your back page >> linda, how about your back page zero. >> my back page zero. fits in. ed

davey was out alan bates.self today , defending himself today, claiming he was lied to. take a listen. >> i wish i'd known then what we all know now for the post office was lying on an industrial scale to me . another ministers. was lying on an industrial scale to me . another ministers . and to me. another ministers. and when i met alan bates and listened to his concerns , i put listened to his concerns, i put those concerns to officials in my department to the post office, to national federations, office, to national federations, of postmasters. and it's clear they all were lying to me , with they all were lying to me, with me in the studio is the former editor of the sun fleet street legend kelvin mackenzie. >> kelvin . should he go? >> kelvin. should he go? >> kelvin. should he go? >> yes, i absolutely think he should go. and that it defence, though was appalling . really though was appalling. really your job. though was appalling. really yourjob. you are the minister. people are lying to you left , people

so ed davey um, out of this.so ed davey um, getting a lot of flak because he was post office minister in 2010, 2012. um, alan bates, who's the sort of hero of the hounif who's the sort of hero of the hour, if you like, one of these subpostmasters who didn't accept it and sort of really , really it and sort of really, really fought back. um wrote to him five times, had one meeting and said, ed davey. he five times, had one meeting and said, ed davey . he basically five times, had one meeting and said, ed davey. he basically was told by the post office there was no problem, nothing to see here effectively, and accepted that. here effectively, and accepted that . so we've been talking to that. so we've been talking to some of ed davey constituents down in kingston and surbiton a little bit earlier. let's have a quick look at what they had to say. asleep at the job. >> but then again , in retrospect >> but then again, in retrospect , you never know . >> but then again, in retrospect , you never know. um, >> but then

ed davey sort of set in stone.has reached such a pitch now on this issue that there's a real thirst to have someone in parliament with experience in a post office who is willing to speak up for postman voters and postmistresses . and that's why postmistresses. and that's why she's running, as she says reluctantly, this campaign . reluctantly, this campaign. >> okay, olivia utley there for us in new malden. >> okay, olivia utley there for us in new malden . thank you so us in new malden. thank you so much for bringing us that exclusive on the post office scandal, which just rolls on and on. nicky, what did you make of that? what did you make of yvonne? x sub postmistress yvonne? this x sub postmistress who is now going to stand in sir davey seat. i mean, you can feel the palpable anger, can't you, from her? >> absolutely. and like the >> absolutely. and just like the bravery for doing that. bravery actually for doing that. because you're not into because if you're not into politics the sense of you've politics in th

mr ed davey while he was an mp. mr ed davey £5,000 a month to represent this company.he didn't know they were representing. >> he's not a lawyer. let's remember. so he was just a kind of figurehead head, a sort of non—executive director , non—executive director, something that. something like that. >> £175,000 in three years. nice work if you can get it. >> isn't it really stinks? it really right more snow really does. right more snow expected across england today as the met office issues in london. amber cold health alert wasn't even this morning. even that cold this morning. >> yesterday . >> a flurry yesterday. >> a flurry yesterday. >> yeah, there was my children got so excited i can't tell you they're excited for about 90s. and then snow all disappeared . and then snow all disappeared. of icy blast of course, this icy blast follows storm henk that left many areas flooded, leaving many unable to return to their homes and that image you are listening on the radio, on the tv at the moment is the that's where your friend. i believe this is the stains yeah. this is sta

lee's davey, to resign. and joins me live in furious and he joins me live in the studio. that's right. the deputy the tory deputy chairman of the tory party very shortly. but party live very shortly. but next in the head to head keir starmer goes for the jugular in pmqs. >> doesn't the country deserve so much better than a prime minister who simply doesn't get britain? he >> what does he mean by that? um, who does understand the country more the prime minister or the labour leader? >> while tory mp brendan clarke—smith locks horns with former labour adviser stella santykiu on this debate . so lots santykiu on this debate. so lots to come, let me tell you, sparks will fly. it is sunak versus starmer next. mark dolan in for patrick christys news, the people's channel, britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> you're watching patrick christys tonight with me, mark dolan. all week. lovely to have your company coming up. deputy chair of the tories lee anderson doubles down on calls for ed doubles down o

this is the about sir ed davey.signation of over 30 prominent people in this country who have made mistakes in their job. made mistakes in theirjob. >> so does the prime minister agree with me that the leader of the lib dems should take his own advice and clearing his advice and start by clearing his desk, clear his diary and clear off usual, chris lee off as usual, chris lee anderson, about as subtle as a house brick to the head, but does he have a point? >> davey was the post >> ed davey was the post minister at the time, or are they trying to deflect from they just trying to deflect from their incompetence? they just trying to deflect from the i incompetence? they just trying to deflect from the i think ncompetence? they just trying to deflect from the! think heympetence? they just trying to deflect from the! think he hasetence? they just trying to deflect from the! think he has got:e? they just trying to deflect from the! think he has got a? they just trying to deflect from the! think he has got a point. >> i th

>> it really ed davey. >> it is really ed davey. >> it is really ed davey. >> removals time's up with such a big photograph of such a great big photograph of rishi why would rishi sunak a rival? why would you do that? well, he's you do that? well, i think he's been looking bloke. been a bad looking bloke. >> yeah. i mean, most people just see. oh there goes rishi sunak. yes, i think i'll vote conservative. >> yeah exactly. >> yeah exactly. >> i mean it's extraordinary. >> i mean it's extraordinary. >> and mean the driving >> and plus i mean the driving was appalling. >> it was just going to >> it was i was just going to say with curve. say with a curve. >> have his seatbelt on. >> did he have his seatbelt on. >> did he have his seatbelt on. >> an hgv driver. and >> my dad was an hgv driver. and if haven't asked i know if you haven't asked i know i we'll be checking of course. >> make sure it's british made that lorry. >> you see that. did the >> did you see that. he did the right turn wrong right turn in the wrong lane. yes yes. so. so the liberals. this for the this is a metaphor for

sir ed davey , now leader of the sir ed davey, now leader of the lib dems.postal minister under prime minister david cameron , trousered the better cameron, trousered the better part of a third of £1 million while also serving the law firm that so aggressively and effectively targeted those subpostmasters. even as the evil was at its height. he refused to meet far less to listen to those suffering the wrong of it all. also turning a blind eye was labour leader sir keir starmer, sometime boss of public prosecutions. prime minister sunak has had the unmitigated gall to take it upon himself to describe the destruction of nearly a thousand lives as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation's history. without doubt, those people are the victims of an obscene and unforgivable wrong. but i have to listen to more insincerity. devoid of a grain of genuine empathy from the man presiding over so much else that's terribly amiss. the on going horror of excess, dying of undiscussed unexplained causes in the aftermath of the so—called pandemic, ruinous lock

but if ed davey had _ still victims of this. .. but if ed davey had met _ still victims of this. ..people like - still victims of this. .. but if ed i davey had met people like alan bates, then maybe so many lives would not have been ruined. he has said it very — would not have been ruined. he has said it very clear _ would not have been ruined. he has said it very clear today, _ would not have been ruined. he has said it very clear today, he - would not have been ruined. he has said it very clear today, he feels - said it very clear today, he feels he was deeply misled by post office boxes. i5 he was deeply misled by post office boxes. , . . he was deeply misled by post office boxes. , ., ., , ., boxes. is that a good look, blaming others when — boxes. is that a good look, blaming others when he _ boxes. is that a good look, blaming others when he was _ boxes. is that a good look, blaming others when he was actually - others when he was actually minister?— others when he was actually minister? , _ , . minister? -- misled by post office bosses macros _ minister? -- misled by post of

i mean, could politically could this be politically damaging davey ? on one damaging to ed davey?n one hand, not got that much of hand, he's not got that much of a recognition factor, and we'll get on to that, because that may be why reform doing well be why reform is doing well against lib dems. but on the against the lib dems. but on the other hand, he's now splashed all the newspapers all over the newspapers and people be thinking people are going to be thinking about wrong context people are going to be thinking abc him wrong context people are going to be thinking abc him politically, 'rong context people are going to be thinking abc him politically, saying,ntext for him politically, saying, as long as you're with me, well, of course was to with him. course it was to do with him. >> and as you say, once the government admit they've got to pay government admit they've got to pay and that's now pay compensation and that's now completely no completely agreed, there's no there's no argued about it anymore. well, davis anymore. well, then ed davis position completely crumbles. yes

ed davey for his resignation. ed davey was post office minister, wasn't he?r under the liberal democrat conservative coalition. now was ed davey in parliament and also did rishi sunak answer the question in any shape or form? i don't think he even referenced it. did he ? i think referenced it. did he? i think you're quite right, pip. >> no , indeed he didn't. no, >> no, indeed he didn't. no, sir. ed davey was not in house of commons today. he apparently had originally had a question , had originally had a question, um, tabled, but he has had to withdraw that question for personal reasons. that i am not privy to, but certainly a lot of discussion about his role in all this. he was post office . this. he was post office. minister from 2010 to 20,012. of course, there's been over a dozen post office ministers dunng dozen post office ministers during the period that this scandal has been going for. on he's by no means the only one, but he is the most high profile as the leader a party. now, as the leader of a party. now, again , the prime minister's again, the pr

there are the politicians and dave ed davey right. people up in esher and guildford, which has a very good chance of going lib dem from conservative. i've, i would say if when the opinion polls start coming out, ed davey will be in degree of trouble and i be in a degree of trouble and i think he'll bigger and keir starmer. >> but keir starmer at the cps. >> but keir starmer at the cps. >> yes, that's true, but that's much, much as i love the water to lapping his feet and it to be lapping at his feet and it is slightly but ed davey is in a degree of trouble that it's the whole officialdom that if you whole of officialdom that if you were part of officialdom , you were part of officialdom, you thought the post office must be right and fujitsu must be right, and you didn't listen. yeah. >> your valued and your >> to your valued and your known, um, post office, no personal relations, human contact , being a personal relations, human contact, being a community player , the things we're told player, the things we're told matter that we teac

now ed davey was tories anymore.f a coalition with labour in the event of a hung parliament. here's what he said when we spoke to him. i'm focussed on a general election. >> i announced today that we general election. >> i ithe)unced today that we general election. >> i the generaloday that we general election. >> i the general electiont we think the general election should be on may 2nd, and it should be on may the 2nd, and it couldn't come soon enough. >> tabling a bill in >> we'll be tabling a bill in parliament next week , which parliament next week, which would give mps the chance to call general election rather call the general election rather than sunak running away call the general election rather tharhidingsunak running away call the general election rather tharhiding away running away call the general election rather tharhiding away .'unning away call the general election rather tharhiding away . let's|g away call the general election rather tharhiding away . let's haveay call the general election rather th

just finally, christopher, uh, davey was the post uh, sir, ed davey was the post office minister.aign. and mr bates, part of this, uh mr bates, who's part of this, uh , so part of this documentary . , so part of this documentary. uh, what do you think, sir ed davey should do? i mean, he's he's partly culpable here, isn't he's partly culpable here, isn't he ? he? >> uh, well, i think look, when you go to a minister and he's talking and saying that he was misled by post office officials, even if it's an arm's length body , you know, you don't just body, you know, you don't just take their for you say, take their word for it. you say, well, find out for well, i want to find out for myself therefore you have to myself and therefore you have to dig say, well, dig deep and you say, well, i want see hear the other side want to see hear the other side of the story. why didn't he meet allen? >> find out? absolutely right. >> find out? absolutely right. >> thank so >> christopher, thank you so much indeed for your thoughts. well, much indeed for your thoughts. we a comment and they said tha

and then all a sudden ed then all of a sudden sir ed davey into because davey goes into hiding becauseters scandal. of the postmasters scandal. i think that's a they'll probably be some tory mps the autumn, be some tory mps in the autumn, if on by the skin of if they hold on by the skin of their will have that their teeth, who will have that to for to thank for it? >> well, they do have somebody ready to replace him in daisy cooper there could cooper and i think there could be problems if they be in serious problems if they do actually make that switch. >> david's position in >> is david's position in in peril davis's position in peril? >> i think it is. >> i think it is. >> yes, i think it is imminently. >> i it's difficult to tell with the lib dems because they're such a small, tight knit group. >> but i think it is. and there's a lot of talk about daisy cooper being, uh, brought to in replace him now. and, uh, you know, and actually a lot of conservative mps the south conservative mps from the south are worried about that. conservative mps from the south are quite 'ried about that.

there are the politicians and dave ed davey right. people up in esher and guildford, which has a very good chance of going lib dem from conservative. i've, i would say if when the opinion polls start coming out, ed davey will be in degree of trouble and i be in a degree of trouble and i think he'll bigger and keir starmer. >> but keir starmer at the cps. >> but keir starmer at the cps. >> yes, that's true, but that's much, much as i love the water to lapping his feet and it to be lapping at his feet and it is slightly but ed davey is in a degree of trouble that it's the whole officialdom that if you whole of officialdom that if you were part of officialdom , you were part of officialdom, you thought the post office must be right and fujitsu must be right, and you didn't listen. yeah. >> your valued and your >> to your valued and your known, um, post office, no personal relations, human contact , being a personal relations, human contact, being a community player , the things we're told player, the things we're told matter that we teac

davey saying people lied to me. cameron saying, i don't remember the what do you make it? meanwhile innocent people suffering . oh ho. 110. >> no. >> absolutely. and it seems like there seems to be some kind of collective memory loss going on and that just the sort of, uh, you know, shifting response ability and indeed shedding accountability city. that seems to general response among to be the general response among many within our political establishment. prosecute establishment. these prosecute lines from 1999 to 2015. so that includes a decade of new labour as well as the conservative liberal democrat coalition. so this is a problem that spans the mainstream political parties . mainstream political parties. this is one scandal that's really angered me. if truth be told, yes . and we're talking told, yes. and we're talking about four people actually committed suicide. more many of these people, they took great pride in their profession, community based, providing that those services to their local community. and

look, steve says ed davey should do the as davey should do the same as paula. hand is on her paula.s hand is on her back. and while we're at it, he says should be to says starmer should be held to account there's excuses. account too. there's no excuses. all could be absolutely all of this could be absolutely stopped in its tracks. i've got to say, i don't think any political party comes off this well at all. it's literally covered all of them, none of them glory, i tell you them in glory, i can tell you that, that is really coming that, um, that is really coming through, chris again. uh, he feels that ed davey should give his knighthood back. he says alan be knighted alan bates should be knighted for hard work. well, for all of his hard work. well, alan was actually offered. alan bates was actually offered. i it obe. he turned i think it was an obe. he turned it down because he he it down because he said he didn't accept it, didn't want to accept it, because wanted to until because he wanted to wait until every body had received justice before. an before. he then accepted an honoun

but their leader, sir ed davey, was out in guildford today.e attacking the tory blue wall and here he was wearing a hi viz orange jacket pointing to his next poster . and here it is. ed next poster. and here it is. ed davey's tory removals times up. um i don't know what you think about that. i think it's really pretty cringe making and pretty ghastly. and yes, ed davey might be trying , but he's really very be trying, but he's really very wide of the mark. and you just thought what the government in this amount of trouble , the lib this amount of trouble, the lib dems would be soaring the dems would be soaring in the polls. they're not, uh, i don't think people really large numbers of people really want a party that could threaten to take us back into the european union or force a second referendum upon us and maybe, just maybe , sir ed davey hasn't just maybe, sir ed davey hasn't quite got what it takes. perhaps he hasn't quite got the fizz is now in a moment we're going to talk about the war on motorists . talk about the war on motorists. an

can the tories recover and is ed davey toast ? back to my panel, davey toast?davey toast? back to my panel, paul. what happens if from this level all reform beats the tories in the local elections, which must be possible looking at this level of closeness, i think you've got to see the polls and the reform prospects in the context of what's happening, which is that your party is in something of a downward spiral because your party too, isn't it? >> well , i'm party too, isn't it? >> well, i'm not representing it in. all right. i'm not up for election and conservativehome both supports the conservative party but is independent. so i can look on it with a bit of a detached eye. and every time rishi sunak wants to get the conversation back to something that he thinks suits him , like that he thinks suits him, like tax, he's right or wrong tax, whether he's right or wrong , one of your colleagues does something to push downward something to push the downward spiral down again as simon clarke, rightly or wrongly, did. this week, calling for a leadership election . a