Richard Barker Departs

[The BFO]

1. The point about him being a 'decent' bloke who tries to do the right thing. One question; ask yourselves why POL are in such a mess and who has been in a position of great influence for many years now.

2. 'Good luck' to him in the future???

I think you are crediting him with more power than he actually had. Broad policy is set by HM Government, for example ‘Crown Offices should make a profit’. Down the chain of command comes Royal Mail Group Directors, then Post Office Ltd Directorship. Some way beneath that is the Head of The Crown Office Network, the post that Mr Barker held. I met him briefly a few years ago, and found him to be a pleasant person to talk to, but I didn’t find him convincing then and nor did I subsequently. The idea that he had ‘great influence for many years now’ I’m afraid is naïve – I happened to come across a communication from his successor last week, and guess what? Same old discourse. I am quite sure that we do not need to worry about Mr Barker – he will be better off than many on this planet, but at the same time there is no need to be rude or offensive to anyone.

By the way, here am I, typing rubbish on a computer, in a vain attempt to avoid cleaning the windows before the Missus comes home, on one of the busiest days of the year, because nobody thought to ask me in for Overtime, or six weeks ago to ‘COSA me in’. I give up – bloody windows, why won’t in ‘king well rain?

And she’ll expect tea on the table…

[Running Man]

Sorry BFO but I cannot agree on the point of RB's influence.

His post was one of the main 'movers and shakers' in POL and he consistently made wrong decisions.

To blame the mess on government policy is incorrect.

While we are on the subject of power, the CAMs have a lot more power and influence than they let on- don't be fooled by their predictable response of 'only implementing business policy'. These people are in such positions because they are supposed to be able to think for themselves.