New Lord vows to fight for Post Office justice

Lord Beamish said he wanted to address issues with the Post Office's Capture system

A new member of the House of Lords has vowed to continue fighting for justice for sub-postmasters.

Kevan Jones, now known as Lord Beamish, served as the MP for North Durham for 23 years and worked for more than 15 years campaigning for the Post Office Horizon scandal.

In May, he called on the Post Office to reveal how many sub-postmasters who had their contracts terminated because of "malpractice" might actually have been victims of a second allegedly flawed IT system called Capture.

In Lord Beamish's maiden speech at the House of Lords, he said wanted to address this "similar scandal that took place with that system".

Lord Beamish served as veterans minister for two years (2008-2010) and as a shadow defence minister for six years (2010-2016).

He said he was pleased to be reunited in the House with Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom, who he had worked with for more than 15 years on the campaign to get justice for sub-postmasters affected by the post Office Horizon scandal.

'Latest scandal'

"Though we were of different political parties, we've worked well together and over the years, I think, have helped right a grave injustice," the peer said.

"The latest scandal is around a system called Capture, which predates the Horizon system and has just been the subject of a report by the Department of Business, which highlights a similar scandal that took place with that system and it's something now that I think we need now to address."

In September, a report found "there was a reasonable likelihood" the Capture system could have created cash shortfalls in accounts.

Capture was used in branches from 1992 to 1999, prior to the Horizon software.

In the speech, Lord Beamish said many people had asked about the origins of his title, which is one of the villages that make up the North Durham constituency and the open air museum.

"As you know, it's always difficult to decide which village or community to include in one's title, but I did draw a line at a village very close to Beamish called No Place," he said.

"I didn't quite think being Lord No Place would have the same ring."