paula vennells was — testimony from paula vennells.s was chief executive - testimony from paula vennells. pm: vennells was chief executive from 2012 to 2019. that is the latter part of the scandal when former sub—postmasters alleged there was a cover—up, something the post office has denied. the inquiry counsel has been as forensic as always and is focusing on that alleged cover—up, particularly on 2013 when the forensic investigator second sight was preparing their interim report. what we saw today was an e—mail from mark davis. he was the chief of the post office pr and he led this aggressive media campaign. in the e—mail he advised paula vennells that, if in response they were to review past prosecutions, it would, in his words, make front page news. he also added that in media terms it becomes mainstream, very high profile, to which paula vennells responded, you are right to call this out. i will take your spear. here are some of that exchange. our current approach would mean there is going to be some coverage but not very much — t

— is what happened here, miss vennells? . ., . ., vennells?ad an ob'ective, that is ri . ht as vennells? i had an ob'ective, that is right as the h vennells? i had an ob'ective, that is right as the chief _ vennells? i had an objective, that is right as the chief executive - vennells? i had an objective, that is right as the chief executive of l is right as the chief executive of the company to bring it... it wasn't profitability but commercial sustainability so that it consumed less funding and less subsidy from the government. find less funding and less subsidy from the government.— less funding and less subsidy from the government. and kept on coming. you fail to ask — the government. and kept on coming. you fail to ask the _ the government. and kept on coming. you fail to ask the right _ the government. and kept on coming. you fail to ask the right questions, - you fail to ask the right questions, you couldn't be bothered, could you, miss vennells? the risk was too great, _ miss vennells? the risk was too great, looking under that rock, you

vennells.ology we heard from paula vennells. 1, , , . ~ :: ::' vennells. basically back in 2009 i had problems _ vennells. basically back in 2009 i had problems with _ vennells. basically back in 2009 i had problems with my _ vennells. basically back in 2009 i had problems with my post - vennells. basically back in 2009 i had problems with my post office| vennells. basically back in 2009 i i had problems with my post office pin card, i_ had problems with my post office pin card, i was— had problems with my post office pin card, i was told i was taking money out of— card, i was told i was taking money out of the _ card, i was told i was taking money out of the pensioners account, whichever— out of the pensioners account, whichever is the i wasn't. at the time _ whichever is the i wasn't. at the time it— whichever is the i wasn't. at the time itiust _ whichever is the i wasn't. at the time itjust got out of hand. and i -ot time itjust got out of hand. and i got done — time itjust got out of hand.

so, that was paula vennells. — hearing. so, that was paula vennells, we're _ hearing.ak hearing. so, that was paula i vennells, we'rejust a break in hearing. so, that was paula - vennells, we're just a break in the post office it inquiry, but the idea that the former head of the royal mail group and that text message exchange said that, i think you knew, it is a simple but a damning forward statement, which is revealed in that text message to paula vennells from her former colleague. this is something that some postmasters have long claimed. you are watching bbc news, as we watch the post office it inquiry. so, while we pause in that inquiry, and it is because of a leak in the room, we will be coming to it shortly, let's crossover live. i think that concept, the text message from the royal mail group, will be something making the headlines. i'm assuming there is a lot of reaction at the inquiry itself. i there is a lot of reaction at the inquiry itself-— there is a lot of reaction at the inquiry itself. ithink you knew. i mean, inquiry itself. ithink you knew. i mean.

paula vennells today? just the truth- and _ paula vennells today? just the truth.ls today? just the truth. and do you _ paula vennells today? just the truth. and do you feel - paula vennells today? just the truth. and do you feel you - paula vennells today? just the | truth. and do you feel you have paula vennells today? just the - truth. and do you feel you have been caettin truth. and do you feel you have been getting that — truth. and do you feel you have been getting that in _ truth. and do you feel you have been getting that in the _ truth. and do you feel you have been getting that in the last _ truth. and do you feel you have been getting that in the last few _ truth. and do you feel you have been getting that in the last few weeks? i getting that in the last few weeks? and when it comes to paula vennells, what do you think her responsibility was towards you? she what do you think her responsibility was towards you?— was towards you? she was in a osition was towards you? she was in a position back _ was towards you? she was in a position back in _ was toward

were you - incompetent, paula vennells? today — incompetent, paula vennells? - incompetent, paula vennells? today on her last day of - today on her last day of evidence, she will face questions from lawyers representing sub—postmasters who were wrongly prosecuted or jailed. andy verity, bbc news. at the horizon enquiry. weather forecasters in the us say they expect more and stronger storms than normal during this hurricane season which begins next month. experts at the government's noaa weather service predict above—normal hurricane activity in the atlantic basin with up to 25 named storms, about half of them hurricanes. rick spinrad, from the noaa, said it would be an extraordinary year of hurricanes. 17-25 17—25 named storms with sustained winds of at least 39 mph stock of these, 8—13 are forecast to become hurricanes with maximum sustained winds of at least 7a mph. and 4— seven are forecast to become major hurricanes, that is category 3-5, with hurricanes, that is category 3—5, with maximum sustained winds of at least hundred and 11 mph. of note, the foreca

miss vennells? ooofff with one or the other— vennells?d, argos, others. he rose through— whitbread, argos, others. he rose through the ranks at the post office to become — through the ranks at the post office to become its ceo. you were pushing forward _ to become its ceo. you were pushing forward under network transformation, you have been quoted as saying _ transformation, you have been quoted as saying that you see a future of the post— as saying that you see a future of the post office opening up more branches, — the post office opening up more branches, 30,000 branches in the future _ branches, 30,000 branches in the future that — branches, 30,000 branches in the future. that was due, miss finals, at the _ future. that was due, miss finals, at the time, — future. that was due, miss finals, at the time, each vision you are expressing _ at the time, each vision you are expressing to anyone who asked about the future _ expressing to anyone who asked about the future "— expressing to anyone who asked about the future. —— miss vennells. t

this is paula vennells . vennells. >> of course she didn't tell me.ympathy at all for her, paul said vennells and her ilk are a disgrace. i would have a little respect if they were honest. it just feels like lie after perpetual lie. she could face criminal proceedings. we think in this inquiry, if it turns out that there was some sort of corporate malfeasance and cover up and cover up. absolutely. okay, let's return to this breaking news. two women's bodies have been found inside a house in nottingham. >> police believe they'd been there undiscovered for quite some time. we're going to bring in our reporter now, will hollis, who is there in nottingham at the scene. will morning tell us more? >> good morning. yes. well police say they are keeping an open mind as to what happened here at this incident in nottingham on hartley road in radford , not too far away from radford, not too far away from the city. the bodies of two women were discovered after a welfare check, after concerns were raised. after not seeing the occupants for quite some time. at arou

_ here for miss vennells? do i think there is legaljeopardy? i - here for miss vennells? has _ there is legaljeopardy? i know that alan bates has been _ there is legaljeopardy? i know that alan bates has been to _ there is legaljeopardy? i know that alan bates has been to see - there is legaljeopardy? i know that alan bates has been to see the - alan bates has been to see the metropolitan police this week. do you still think there are things like perverting the course of justice, obstructing the courts of justice, the question of corporate manslaughter. would you still like to see prosecutions and may be an inquiry, a police inquiry into miss vennells? what she sang at the moment becomes pertinent in that case, doesn't it?— case, doesn't it? well, 0k. it doesnt case, doesn't it? well, 0k. it doesn't make _ case, doesn't it? well, 0k. it doesn't make any _ case, doesn't it? well, 0k. it doesn't make any difference. case, doesn't it? well, 0k. it. doesn't make any difference to case, doesn't it? well, 0k. it- doesn't make any difference to me whether she gets prosecuted or

saying nothing and surrounded by police officers, paula vennells arrived at the inquiry for the seconde days of testimony. for the former sub—postmasters who've been watching, her performance so far hasn't been impressive.

any word before you go in ms vennells. at the heart of a bitter scandal., at the centre of a media scrum. paula vennells arrived at the inquiry early, but the cameras were already waiting, as were the former subpostmasters. i just hope that she answers everything. i'm really looking forward to it, i hope she has the strength tojust tell the truth, tell it like it is. she started with a lengthy apology. ..the opportunity to do this in person and how sorry i am for all that subpostmasters and theirfamilies and others have suffered as a result of all of the matters that the inquiry has been looking into for so long. early questions focused on what paula vennells claims she didn't know about flaws and bugs in the horizon it system, an unreliable expert witness and crucial advice given by lawyers. do you think you're the unluckiest ceo in the united kingdom? i was given much information and, as the inquiry has heard, there was information that i wasn't given and others didn't receive as well. one of my reflections on all of this is that i was too trusting. she

paula vennells there. and earlier she broke down in tears at the inquiry as she apologised for telling mps the business was successful. in every court case against subpostmasters . she also against subpostmasters. she also said sorry to those affected, but denied there was a conspiracy to cover up any wrongdoing . wrongdoing. >> i fully accept now that the post office excuse me . the post office excuse me. the post office knew that i completely accepted personally. i didn't know that, and i'm incredibly sorry that that happened to those people to and so many others . others. >> as we heard at the top of the programme, conservative mp craig mackinlay has made his first appearance in parliament today , appearance in parliament today, eight months after contracting sepsis. this was the moment he received a standing ovation in the . house of commons. oh well. the. house of commons. oh well. he had extreme surgery to remove both his hands and feet, and was given a 5% chance of survival after being put in a coma

what do you want to hear from paula vennells in the next three i paula vennells in the next three daysdividual questions, things like when i days? there are lots of individual questions, things like when did l days? there are lots of individual. questions, things like when did she first know that there was remote access to the sub—postmaster is accounts. so the sub—postmistress did not know what was going on in their own computer systems. so they could hardly be blamed for false their own computer systems. so they could hardly be blamed forfalse in those accounts. when did she receive the legal opinion or advice which said fujitsu evidence was completely unreliable? find said fujitsu evidence was completely unreliable? �* ., said fujitsu evidence was completely unreliable? . ., , , said fujitsu evidence was completely unreliable? ., , , ., unreliable? and of course they ran the it unreliable? and of course they ran the w system- _ unreliable? and of course they ran the it system. they _ unreliable? and of course they ran the it system. they did. _ unreliable? and of course they ran the

it is day three for paula vennells at the i three for paula vennells at the public inquiry.e sub postmasters�* lawyers to ask questions. postmasters' lawyers to ask question— postmasters' lawyers to ask questions. postmasters' lawyers to ask cuestions. ., , ., questions. you still continue to live in a cloud _ questions. you still continue to live in a cloud of _ questions. you still continue to live in a cloud of denial. - questions. you still continue to live in a cloud of denial. i - questions. you still continue to | live in a cloud of denial. i didn't know. _ live in a cloud of denial. i didn't know. nobody— live in a cloud of denial. i didn't know, nobody told _ live in a cloud of denial. i didn't know, nobody told me, - live in a cloud of denial. i didn't know, nobody told me, i- live in a cloud of denial. i didn't know, nobody told me, i can't i know, nobody told me, i can't remember, _ know, nobody told me, i can't remember, i_ know, nobody told me, i can't remember, i wasn't _ know, nobody told me, i can't remember, i wasn't shown- know, nobody told me, i can't i r

this vennells's testimony is so crucial to this ongoing inquiry.— to this ongoing inquiry.ongoing inquiry. this is a moment the victims _ to this ongoing inquiry. this is a moment the victims had - to this ongoing inquiry. this is a moment the victims had been i to this ongoing inquiry. this is a - moment the victims had been waiting forfour moment the victims had been waiting for four years. moment the victims had been waiting forfour years. as you moment the victims had been waiting for four years. as you said, moment the victims had been waiting forfour years. as you said, it is a first time she is going to speak publicly about the scandal in nearly a decade. not only is she going to talk about it, she is going to be grilled on it over the course of three days to understand what she knew, but crucially when, because victims are alleging a cover—up that prolonged a scandal for years. that is something the post office has consistently denied. paula vennells was chief executive from 2012 to 2019, the latter part of this kind of winter postmasters were still being prosecuted

and sitting in that room with paula vennells, they want answers, they want full

were you incompetent, paula vennells?e, ms vennells will face questions from the lawyers representing subpostmasters who were wrongly prosecuted or jailed. andy verity, bbc news, at the horizon inquiry. this is an important day for those people who were wrongly convicted? it really is. we always knew it was going to be an important few days at the inquiry but what nobody really knew was that by today, the names of the wrongfully convicted sub—postmasters would be cleared. it is only because the election was called which leaves limited parliamentary time, the parties agree on which laws get priority and this post office bill was deemed to be one of the most important so it passed parliament yesterday and will get royal assent today. it means the majority of wrongly convicted sub—postmasters will today officially have their convictions cleared, their names will be cleared. i should stress it only applies to england and wales. it does not apply to scotland because it has its own legal system and a separate law will be needed

inside the room, when paula vennells has said things like, i was accused of being too trusting, in factlater saying she was perhaps to trusting of her employees, there were laughs in the room. this often happens when these sub—postmaster, who have been going through this for decades, here the same responses repeatedly and then hear comments which they perhaps were not expecting, but this was a traumatic experience for many of them, so some of them who i have spoken to recently, they said that it's particularly painful because it's particularly painful because it's making them relive exactly everything that they've been through. we are talking about bankruptcy, homelessness, mental health problems, and so for them they are saying that the apologies they are saying that the apologies they are saying that the apologies they are hearing, the moments where we saw paula vennells break down in tears, they don't wash with them. one sub—postmaster told me he found this apologies and these moments rang hollow for him. and so it's mixed emotions. overall, they were not expected to be satisfied by

as you can see, paula vennells, she doesn't appear like a normal corporate baddie.they have very little sympathy for her. —— for many of the sub—postmasters. it sympathy for her. -- for many of the sub-postmasters.— sub-postmasters. it wasn't until that itv drama _ sub-postmasters. it wasn't until that itv drama that _ sub-postmasters. it wasn't until that itv drama that this - sub-postmasters. it wasn't until that itv drama that this really i sub-postmasters. it wasn't until i that itv drama that this really came to prominence and today, another real kind of landmark moment where those convictions were quashed in parliament. do you think we would have got to this stage if that drama had happened? i have got to this stage if that drama had happened?— had happened? i don't think we would. had happened? i don't think we would- the _ had happened? i don't think we would. the wheels _ had happened? i don't think we would. the wheels of _ had happened? i don't think we would. the wheels ofjustice i had happened? i don't think we i would. the wheels ofjustice were turning

this is the e-mail from paula vennells to yourself and - paula vennells to yourself and others, in answer happen as a matter of course, and her answer is, from her husband, exception or anomaly. you can also say conditional except anomaly which only manifests itself under unforeseen circumstances. does that help? and your response was, i like exception very much. was renaming bugs part of a culture that was open to challenge at the post office? the background to this e—mail was that we were _ background to this e—mail was that we were concerned in fact that bugs sounded _ we were concerned in fact that bugs sounded like too much of a slang word _ sounded like too much of a slang word and — sounded like too much of a slang word and we wanted to be serious about— word and we wanted to be serious about how — word and we wanted to be serious about how we approach these issues. the reality— about how we approach these issues. the reality of paula vennells talking — the reality of paula vennells talking to our husband who i believe works _ talking to our husband who i believe works in_ talking

this will be the first time paula vennells has spoken publicly about horizon in almost a decade.—up, prolonging this scandal. she has many questions to answer. one key one — what did she know about remote access and when? this is all about the ability to secretly alter sub—postmasters' branch accounts. for years, the post office denied this was possible. but it wasn't true. fujitsu, the company which operated the horizon system, could do this remotely. had this back door access been known about, it would have undermined all the prosecutions the post office brought. the inquiry�*s seen a transcript of a call with a senior lawyer in 2013 which suggests that paula vennells had been briefed about a "covert operations team". then did she mislead mps in 2015? she'll likely be quizzed about these comments to a select committee: if there had been any miscarriages ofjustice, it would have been really important to me and the post office that we actually surfaced those, and as the investigations have gone through, so farwe've had no evidence of that. but how does that square with the post o

you said they were disturbing, didn't you, miss vennells?ce the music, but she first had to get past the cameras... anything to say at all to the - people who suffered so greatly? ..to finally explain her role in the scandal. it has been a long time coming for the subpostmasters whose lives have been wrecked. why, why has she let this go on? did she put profits before people, is the big question. it is important that the truth is there, that she is allowed| to speak, that she can put over what she, you know, _ was seeing at the time. i swear by almighty god... sworn in, the part—time priest was then given a warning about self—incrimination. do you understand all that? thank you, sirwyn, and i plan to answer all the questions. but there were also tears and apology for what she said. the post office knew that, i completely accept it. personally, i did not know that and i'm incredibly sorry that that happened to those people and to so many others. but what did she know and when? was there a conspiracy at the post office, which lasted for nearly

as we heard from the report from emma, mrs vennells was in _ the report from emma, mrs vennells was inf executive, and during that time wrongful— executive, and during that time wrongful prosecution is continued against _ wrongful prosecution is continued against innocent sub—postmaster is. during _ against innocent sub—postmaster is. during that — against innocent sub—postmaster is. during that time evidence was growing — during that time evidence was growing was starting to emerge that the horizon it system provided by foiitsu _ the horizon it system provided by fujitsu was faulty. and during the period _ fujitsu was faulty. and during the period in— fujitsu was faulty. and during the period in 2019, the high court ruled there _ period in 2019, the high court ruled there were — period in 2019, the high court ruled there were problems with the accounting system, so here are some of the _ accounting system, so here are some of the key— accounting system, so here are some of the key questions paula vennells ntight— of the key questions paula vennells might face. when did she know that t

any word before you go in, miss vennells?ears of keeping a low profile, paula vennells was thrust into the spotlight this week and making her way through a scrum of cameras may have been the easy part. she started with an apology. i would just like to say, and i'm gratefulfor the opportunity to do this in person, how sorry i am for all the sub—postmasters and theirfamilies and others have suffered as a result of all of the matters that the inquiry has been looking into for so long. there were tears as she was asked about the death of a sub—postmaster who took his own life after being financially ruined by the post office. and i imagine that... i'm sorry. i imagine that i was probably... just pause. yes. 0k. try and compose yourself if you can, and then continue your evidence, please. she defended her role. she may have been the boss, she said, but she wasn't responsible for everything and she wasn't told everything either. you are not responsible for everything that happens underneath you. you have to rely on the advice of in

did the mask slip in this e-mail, mrs vennells? . slip in this e—mail, mrs vennells?onvention, end of quote. in the present circumstances, the court is also of the view in order to preserve evidence related to allegations of acts falling within the scope of article two and article three of the genocide convention, israel must take effective measures to ensure the unimpeded access to the gaza strip of any commission of inquiry, fact—finding mission, or other investigative body mandated by competent organs of the united nations to investigate allegations of genocide. thejudge speaking the judge speaking at the icj in the last couple of hours. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams is injerusalem. he told us more about the immediate reaction from israel. this was the measure that was anticipated, with some debate as to whether or not the court would finally take that additional step. no official reaction from the government so far. it is due to discuss this ruling later today. there is a reaction from the hardline finance minister itamar ben—gvir who has called it a rel

and paula vennells responded, i will take your stay.ecision making. i believe the inquiry is still going on and we have come to her queue a lot more about this alleged cover—up so it's worth taking a listen. it would be sensible to tell alice first and — it would be sensible to tell alice first and she wondered if susan was overreacting and she could be right. she will— overreacting and she could be right. she will undoubtedly make the legal case against it and emotionally she might— case against it and emotionally she might throw in the towel if we press ahead _ might throw in the towel if we press ahead it _ might throw in the towel if we press ahead. it might also be a way of saying _ ahead. it might also be a way of saying she — ahead. it might also be a way of saying she can't cope with more pressure — saying she can't cope with more pressure. if she leaves in the short term _ pressure. if she leaves in the short term it _ pressure. if she leaves in the short term it witt— pressure. if she leaves in the short term it will be a majo

will you take responsibility, ms paula vennells?— paula vennells? years of keeping a _ paula vennells? after years of keeping a low _ paula vennells? after years of keeping a low profile, - paula vennells? after years of keeping a low profile, paula i keeping a low profile, paula vennells was thrust into the spotlight this week, and making her way through a scrum of cameras may have been the easy part. she started with an apology. i have been the easy part. she started with an apology-— with an apology. i would “ust like to sa - with an apology. i would “ust like to say - and i with an apology. i would “ust like to say - and m h with an apology. i would “ust like to say - and i'm grateful_ with an apology. i would just like to say - and i'm grateful for- with an apology. i would just like to say - and i'm grateful for thel to say — and i'm grateful for the opportunity to do this in person — how sorry i am for all the sub— postmasters and their families, and others who suffered as a result of all of the matter is that the enquiry has been looking int

paula vennells again scandal.la vennells again becoming emotional today on her third day of giving evidence, she admitted making mistakes and accepted that there was no one else to blame. but she claimed that she didn't know why important information hadn't reached her. sam stein kc described that as absolute rubbish , and he suggested that rubbish, and he suggested that miss vennells had failed to ask the right questions. and finally the right questions. and finally the documentary filmmaker morgan spurlock has died at the age of 53. he came to prominence with his oscar nominated film super size me in 2004, which tracked his health while he ate nothing but mcdonald's for a month . the but mcdonald's for a month. the film was credited with prompting a broad conversation about how fast food and rising obesity impacted society . mr spurlock impacted society. mr spurlock passed away in new york due to complications from cancer. well, if you want the latest stories, sign up for gb news alerts by scanning the qr code o

now paula vennells was chief executive between 2012 and 2019. stop now he focused on the year 2013 which was a crucial year for the post office with the bits when the forensic investigators independent forensic investigators independent forensic investigators second site were to publish their interim report into problems with the horizon system and what they could mean in terms of miscarriages ofjustice. she denied that she tried to narrow the scope because of concerns around those issues. she said instead that the executive team generally felt it was all too costly, too expensive and was not getting to a final result quick enough. now then she also asked about a report presented to her by susan creighton, the post office's top lawyer at the time. that report water there could be successful claims of wrongful prosecutions. now susan creighton had prepared that report for a board meeting in 2013. she was meant to deliver and submit it herself. that did not happen. this is what happened instead, take a listen. you were asked to conduct a postmorte

you couldn't let that happen, could you, ms vennells? i loved the post office. i gave it...r... the best post office for the uk. she was asked about this episode of the one show, which highlighted the case ofjo hamilton. if i pleaded guilty. to false accounting. she then discusses it in this e—mail to senior colleagues. did the mask slip? i made a mistake in this e—mail. is the reality what what you said here reflected the behind closed doors attitude to these postmasters? no. she has been rude to all of us. if she just sorted it out, | she could have ended it, what, eight year ago. royal mail was split from the post office and privatised early in her tenure. the inquiry heard she removed a reference to horizon in the prospectus for investors and emailed the post office chair, saying "i've earned my keep." you wanted to defuse this, because it was going to be immensely politically damaging, both to the post office itself, but also to the privatisation. i don't think it was ever my... style to try to please or to keep in with people. but she listed it in an appraisal as one o

at one point today paula vennells said the words my recollection is i don't recall. for several of them were here today, they have said the are reliving everything and one thing that really stands out is that no matter how many times you talk to them about the stories, whether it's to do with bankruptcy or criminal records in prison sentences, they still tear up as they start talking about this. and sitting in that room with paula vennells, they want answers, they want full accountability but it isn't going to give them the years back. . ~ , ., ., ., ~ , back. thank you for taking us throu~h back. thank you for taking us through today's _ back. thank you for taking us through today's evidence. - back. thank you for taking us | through today's evidence. let back. thank you for taking us - through today's evidence. let me tell you we will be back on the campaign trail in a moment and we will be talking live to conservatives on this programme but before that let's just take a few minutes catching up with some of the other news that is making headlines today in the uk. a

paula vennells in the bulletin crying her eyes out.nder whether or not you have any sympathy for her. she's been crying a lot this week, hasn't she? at that inquiry, does it wash with you or not? also, i want to talk to you about that cinema. you've just been looking again at some pro—palestine protests at this time aimed at rishi sunak in that bulletin. but i want to ask, as well as cinema in london that's been daubed with graffiti for having the audacity to show a film about october the 7th. what do you think to all this? is there going to be a resolution to this on the streets of britain, and how much do you think it will impact the goings on on july the 4th? get in touch with me all the usual ways you can email gb views @gbnews. com you can go to twitter or x and get in touch there. or of course you can go on the website as many of you have gbnews.com slash your, say one of my viewers quick you straight out the blocks. martin nigel sorry not martin. you've just issued to me your election manifesto. i think you could be in with a ch

paula vennells again becoming emotional on her third day of evidence , she admitted day of evidence,d making mistakes and accepted that there was no one else to blame. but she claimed that she didn't know why important information hadn't reached her. sam stein kc described that as absolute rubbish and suggested that miss vennells had failed to ask the right questions. and finally, the documentary filmmaker morgan spurlock has died at the age of 53. he came to prominence with his oscar nominated film super size me in 2004, which tracked his health while he ate nothing but mcdonald's for a month. the film was credited with prompting a broad conversation about how fast food and rising obesity was impacting society . mr spurlock impacting society. mr spurlock passed away in new york due to complications from cancer. well, for all the latest headlines, sign up for gb news alerts. simply scan the qr code on your screen or go to gb news slash alerts. now, back to . mark. alerts. now, back to. mark. >> the election has only just been called and already we have a winner. it's not rishi sunak

and paula vennells is reaching for the hankies.odged a bullet over the post office scandal here with me patrick christys next. welcome back. it's the gb news election special liberal democrat leader ed davey has been out on the campaign trail this week, and he's talking a relatively good game. >> but across kent and sussex and surrey and hampshire and, frankly, all over the south—east and south—west it's the liberal democrats who are the challengers to the conservatives >> meanwhile, at the post office inquiry , i fully accept now that inquiry, i fully accept now that the post office excuse me . yeah. the post office excuse me. yeah. well, right. okay but tears flow over at the post office scandal. much of what happened though , much of what happened though, was on a davies watch when he was on a davies watch when he was the postal affairs minister in the coalition government. so could that torpedo his apparent lib dem revival? i'm very pleased to be joined now by the former lib dem mp, mark oaten. mark, thank you very, very much.

vennells, is before the inquiry. >> public inquiry for the first time this morning.a singapore airlines flight from london. six people remain in a critical condition. the horror stories like this put you off flying at all and inflation is falling to 2.3. >> lowest level in almost three years, but not as low as the government and all of us wanted . government and all of us wanted. >> anne robinson, tv presenter for many years worth £50 million. so she's going to do with it. give it to her children before she dies because she wants to avoid inheritance tax. >> some people will say unethical. i say good on her. >> absolutely. it raises interesting issues though, doesn't it, about

you couldn't let that happen, could you, ms vennells? i loved the post office. i gave it...ffice for the uk. she was asked about this episode of the one show, which highlighted the case ofjo hamilton. if i pleaded guilty- to false accounting... she then discusses it in this e—mail to senior colleagues. "i was more bored than outraged," she says. "jo hamilton lacked passion and admitted false accounting on tv." did the mask slip? i made a mistake in this e—mail. and is the reality that what you said here reflected the behind closed doors attitude to these postmasters? no. she's been rude to all of us. that's the whole thing. if she'd just sorted it out, she could have ended it, i what, eight year ago. royal mail was split from the post office and privatised early in her tenure. the inquiry heard she removed a reference to horizon in the prospectus for investors and emailed the post office chair, saying, "i've earned my keep." you wanted to defuse this, because of course it was going to be immensely politically damaging, both to the post office itself, but also to the privatis

play a clip by paula vennells, well, yeah , paula vennells, well, yeah, well, i mean, i've watched thaten giving to the inquiry. i think it is ever more clear that the people at the top of the post office knew what was going on, as well. ten, 12 years ago, 2013. and you've got to ask yourself why that wasn't disclosed to the courts , wasn't disclosed to the courts, but that'll be a matter for obviously, if that has been some versus something like perverting the course of justice, we know the course of justice, we know the metropolitan police have got an investigation into this and the crown prosecution service are there to assist them in taking forward charges where prosecutions can be taken forward. and i said for some months, i think i would welcome any charges, brought forward. this has been a horrendous scandal, £1 billion of costs, the taxpayer in terms of compensation, countless lives ruined, divorces, suicides, homelessness , absolutely homelessness, absolutely horrendous. what's happened and somebody needs to be held to account for it . account for it. >> in this week, of course

paula vennells again becoming emotional on her third day of evidence , she admitted day of evidence,d making mistakes and accepted that there was no one else to blame. but she claimed that she didn't know why important information hadn't reached her. sam stein kc described that as absolute rubbish and suggested that miss vennells had failed to ask the right questions. and finally, the documentary filmmaker morgan spurlock has died at the age of 53. he came to prominence with his oscar nominated film super size me in 2004, which tracked his health while he ate nothing but mcdonald's for a month. the film was credited with prompting a broad conversation about how fast food and rising obesity was impacting society . mr spurlock impacting society. mr spurlock passed away in new york due to complications from cancer. well, for all the latest headlines, sign up for gb news alerts. simply scan the qr code on your screen or go to gb news slash alerts. now, back to . mark. alerts. now, back to. mark. >> the election has only just been called and already we have a winner. it's not rishi sunak

you couldn't let that happen, could you, ms vennells? i loved the post office. i gave it...the case ofjo hamilton. if i pleaded guilty- to false accounting... she then discusses it in this e—mail to senior colleagues. "i was more bored than outraged," she says. "jo hamilton lacked passion and admitted false accounting on tv." did the mask slip? i made a mistake in this e—mail. and is the reality what what you said here reflected the behind closed doors attitude to these postmasters? no. she's been rude to all of us. that's the whole thing. if she just sorted it out, | she could have ended it, what, eight year ago. royal mail was split from the post office and privatised early in her tenure. the inquiry heard she removed a reference to horizon in the prospectus for investors and emailed the post office chair, saying, "i've earned my keep." you wanted to defuse this, because of course it was going to be immensely politically damaging, both to the post office itself, but also to the privatisation. i don't think it was ever my... ..5tyle to try to please or to keep in with peopl

and it's quite clear that what what was happening was paula vennells had got her own agenda. wanted to be in the limelight, take all the credit , and it take all the credit, and it didn't matter how she achieved that , didn't matter how she achieved that, michael. >> she said that she and i quote, she said she loved the post office and she did the best job. and she wanted the post office to thrive for the whole office to thrive for the whole of the united kingdom, the sam stein case for the prosecution then said, actually, that was absolute rubbish. would you concur? would you agree with that assessment? >> i would agree with his assessment, sam's pretty acute to picking up on these things because in general, i can assure you that, out of the 11,500 post offices within the network, the network of subpostmasters, they all love the post office. it's an institution that they love and they worship, and they're proud to be associated with it. but when you've got a ceo or ceo who is determined to brandish all of these people as criminals, thieves is just absolutely outrageous and u

the former post office chief executive, paula vennells, gives a second day of evidence at the horizon it inquiry. the ten—year—old girl killed in a mudslide in north yorkshire is named as leah harrison. and are vets charging us too much to treat our pets? an investigation is launched to find out. and coming up on bbc news... west ham united have a new boss. they announce thatjulen lopetegui willjoin the club on a two—year contract. good afternoon. party leaders have hit the campaign trail — with six weeks to go till the general election. the prime minister rishi sunak said only the conservatives offer security and economic stability, while the labour leader sir keir starmer promised an end to what he called 1a years of decline and chaos under the tories. nigel farage said he won't be standing for reform uk but will campaign for them. so what happens next? over the next five days, parliament will try to get through unfinished business and pass remaining legislation. it will be dissolved next thursday, may the 30th. each party will launch its manifesto in the days to follow. then on the

boss paula vennells. well, she kept crying, didn't she? yes, sir.r the first time at the public inquiry into to the the post office. she's back giving evidence. >> so joining us now is conservative mp for north norfolk and former subpostmaster, a friend of the show duncan baker. duncan. lovely to see you again . look lovely to see you again. look none of us like to take sort of gloat in somebody's an individual's misery , but she individual's misery, but she didn't look very happy yesterday. and this is a tough ask for her. there's going to be some tough questions, but she has to answer them . has to answer them. >> yeah, i think very much that yesterday was probably the soft day. it was, getting her, going . day. it was, getting her, going. and actually, i think the next two days are going to be even tougher. but it's sort of what we learned yesterday that's most revealing, but she didn't seem to know very much at all, i'm not necessarily sure that that's going to hold up for the next two days, i mean, one of the revelations is that she didn't know

meanwhile paula vennells will soon appear in front of the inquiry for the final time.er, the former post office boss has already admitted it was possibly her hope that a mediation scheme with subpostmasters would minimise compensation . we'll minimise compensation. we'll have much more news at the top of the hour. you can get more now by scanning the qr code on your screen for gb news alerts. now it's back to mark and . now it's back to mark and. nana. >> well, hello and welcome to britain's newsroom on gb news with nana akua and mark dolan. forget about starmer and sunak. this is the dream team. i think it's like bodie and doyle and you know what we're going to do? we are going to entertain you. of course we've got election fever. why this campaign matters to you. sunak versus starmer, a presidential election. no. >> hang on. you can't forget the others. there's reform and there's recovery. >> the labour you've got liberal democrats. >> so it's not just them. it's a free for all. and they'll all have some part to play in the election. it doesn't matter. it might be a

miss vennells, that's humbug. you preach compassion but you don't practice it.abour launches its campaign in scotland as rishi sunak heads to northern ireland. the young woman rejected by the army because of a family history of breast cancer — a bbc investigation prompts a u—turn. can he? can he? yes! you beauty. yes he can. and the yes he can. teenage darts sensation luke littler wins his first major title — the premier league. and coming up on bbc news... manchester city and manchester united prepare to go head—to—head in the fa cup final for the second year in a row.

the ex—boss, paula vennells beginning her second day of evidence into the horizon it scandal.e has spoken publicly about her role in that scandal in nearly a decade. she broke down in tears at some point when facing questions about why she made a misleading statement to mps. let's go there live now as the evidence continues and the questioning continues. let's listen to some of the evidence. i questioning continues. let's listen to some of the evidence.— questioning continues. let's listen to some of the evidence. i was told that, and i— to some of the evidence. i was told that, and i knew, _ to some of the evidence. i was told that, and i knew, i— to some of the evidence. i was told that, and i knew, ithink, _ to some of the evidence. i was told that, and i knew, ithink, becausel that, and i knew, ithink, because we had agreed to support thejfsa, and if i remember the time, they had been asked to keep thejfsa happy. and i don't think we had any problem with that. not until the team began to raise these questions that perhaps because of that second sight, were not looking at t

any word before you go in, miss vennells?gh a scrum of cameras may have been the easy part. she started with an apology. i would just like to say, and i'm gratefulfor the opportunity to do this in person, how sorry i am for all the sub—postmasters and theirfamilies and others have suffered as a result of all of the matters that the inquiry has been looking into for so long. there were tears as she was asked about the death of a sub—postmaster who took his own life after being financially ruined by the post office. and i imagine that... i'm sorry. i imagine that i was probably... just pause. yes. 0k. try and compose yourself if you can, and then continue your evidence, please. she defended her role. she may have been the boss, she said, but she wasn't responsible for everything and she wasn't told everything either. you are not responsible for everything that happens underneath you. you have to rely on the advice of internal and external experts. you still continue to live in a cloud of denial. by day three of hearing her evid

i want to get your reaction, you were there when paula vennells apologise.your reaction to it?— reaction to it? first, you “ust suggested i reaction to it? first, you “ust suggested i i reaction to it? first, you “ust suggested i was i reaction to it? first, you “ust suggested i was not * reaction to it? first, you “ust suggested i was not parth reaction to it? first, youjust suggested i was not part of. reaction to it? first, you just. suggested i was not part of it, reaction to it? first, you just i suggested i was not part of it, i was part— suggested i was not part of it, i was part of the organisation, because _ was part of the organisation, because i_ was part of the organisation, because i had to have my own offices — because i had to have my own offices i_ because i had to have my own offices. i was the trouble shooter for the _ offices. i was the trouble shooter for the london south east branch, and operated in many offices. the element _ and operated in many offices. the elemen ., , , ., , �* element absolutely, and they weren't treatin: element ab