Justin Welby: church should have asked more questions about ex-Post Office boss

Feb 22, 2024 by Jill

by Harriet Sherwood, Guardian:

Archbishop says C of E failed to challenge involvement of Paula Vennells’ in church bodies in light of Horizon scandal.

The Church of England failed to challenge the involvement of Paula Vennells, the former Post Office boss and an Anglican priest, in C of E bodies in light of the Horizon scandal, the archbishop of Canterbury has admitted.

In his first public comments on the matter, Justin Welby said “more questions should have been asked” about Vennells, including her position on an ethical investment committee in 2019 and 2020.

“It is clear that more questions should have been asked about the appropriateness of that involvement when more had come to light about the Horizon scandal. We recognise this and will need to reflect on it,” Welby said in response to a written question to the C of E ruling body, the General Synod, which meets in London this weekend.

Welby declined to confirm or deny that Vennells had been interviewed for the post of bishop of London, the third most senior figure in the C of E, saying he was bound by confidentiality.

In January, the BBC reported that Welby had “pushed her application and was seen as a supporter of her”. It said she was one of three people shortlisted for the post in 2017 while she was still chief executive of the Post Office.

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