One of the key legal figures in the later years of the Post Office scandal is refusing to appear before the public inquiry, it emerged today.
Jane MacLeod, who was general counsel from 2015 to 2019, was listed to appear as a witness next month to explain her role in the civil litigation that ultimately fully exposed the scandal.
But her name has subsequently disappeared from the list. During cross-examination of chief financial officer Alisdair Cameron, he had said that the government-ordered Swift review, from 2016, was not being shared with him because MacLeod had said it was privileged. Cameron suggested to the inquiry that she may disagree with this when she appeared at the inquiry.
Counsel Jason Beer KC said: ‘We are not going to hear from her. She lives abroad and won’t co-operate.’
MacLeod was head of the Post Office legal team during the Bates v Post Office litigation and is believed to have advised chairman Tim Parker not to share the review authored by Treasury lawyer Jonathan Swift KC. This review had found ‘real issues’ for the Post Office.
MacLeod told the BBC earlier this year that she could not comment on papers showing the Post Office knew its defence in the Bates litigation was untrue. She said at the time that she supported the ongoing public inquiry and was assisting it. She added that while the inquiry was ongoing ‘I do not think it is appropriate to comment at this time’.
MacLeod is believed to be in Australia, where she is on a career break.
In a statement realeased on Friday evening, a spokesperson for the inquiry said: 'A fulsome update regarding Ms McLeod’s evidence and efforts that have been made to get her to the witness stand will be provided next week.'
