In a significant development surrounding the Post Office scandal, a handwritten note from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been brought to light. The document, published by the public inquiry on Friday, indicates that Blair raised concerns about the Horizon IT system before its rollout. The note suggests that he was warned about the system's potential unreliability, adding to existing concerns about its reliability and mounting costs.

The letter, dated December 10, 1998, was written by Peter Mandelson, who was Blair's trade and industry secretary at the time. Mandelson believed that proceeding with the Horizon system was the "only sensible choice." He warned of potential "political fallout" and strained relations with Fujitsu, a major investor in the UK, if the contract were canceled. The letter, along with a submission to Blair, has now been made public in full, shedding further light on the decision-making process.

The Horizon system, initially developed by ICL, a firm owned by Fujitsu, aimed to facilitate welfare benefit payments through Post Office counters using a swipe card. However, this aspect of the project was eventually abandoned, and the system was implemented in 1999 for accounting and stocktaking purposes instead.

Troublingly, over 900 workers were wrongfully prosecuted after the flawed software wrongly indicated missing money. The Horizon project, initiated during John Major's Conservative government, was already running more than two years behind schedule by 1998. As a result, it was referred to Blair to determine whether the project should continue.

A submission made to the then-prime minister by Geoff Mulgan, a special advisor at Downing Street, described the system as "increasingly flawed" and warned that it would prove unsatisfactory in the long run. Blair personally jotted down a handwritten note requesting a clear assessment of its reliability. A letter from Blair's private secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, dated December 14, 1998, stated that Blair's preference was to avoid canceling the project.

Witness statements from former Labour ministers, including Alistair Darling and Stephen Byers, highlighted attempts by the government to salvage the troubled scheme. However, no former minister has admitted to having knowledge of the specific problems that led to false accusations against sub-postmasters.

Mandelson's letter also emphasized the importance of the Horizon system for maintaining footfall in post offices, expressing concerns about the potential closure of post office branches and its political ramifications.

This newly released document has shed further light on the decision-making process surrounding the Horizon system and has raised questions about the government's awareness of potential flaws. Blair's spokesperson emphasized that he took the issue seriously and sought reassurances regarding the system's viability and reliability. Nonetheless, it has become increasingly apparent that the Horizon product was seriously flawed, leading to tragic consequences, and Blair expresses sympathy for those affected.

The public inquiry continues its investigation into the Post Office scandal, aiming to uncover the full extent of the flaws in the Horizon system and the subsequent wrongful accusations faced by sub-postmasters.