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Good morning both
Ben Foat[/O=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=8070ECECB2CC4077A7ECE34867 16D2B6-BEN
FOAT]
Wed 21/02/2024 8:32:26 AM (UTC)
Karen McEwanf™ Benjamin
Tidswel Nick Readf_
Owen Woodleyf.
RE: Project Pineapple
Can you please confirm for me to take further advice from Farrrers on Project Pineapple in light of the recent
developments.
As a minimum, Elliott Jacobs should go on record and in writing to confirm the apology that he provided to me about
the assertions that were made in the Pineapple file note. Comments attributed to him have been published in the
media and he has remained silent when he is well as aware that those comments contain factual inaccuracies and
even a basic lack of understanding of Post Office’s organisational structure.
I understand that Board is discussing today and I would appreciate being updated given that my name has been
referred to publicly and in the pineapple file note.
Happy to discuss.
Many thanks
Ben
Ben Foat (He/Him)
Group General Counsel
100 Wood Street
ondon
C2V 7ER
Email:
Personal Assistant: [
Email:!
From: Ben Foat
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 2:05 PM
enjamin Tidswell!__
Subject: Project Pineapple
Importance: High
Dear Ben, Karen and Nick
Project Pineapple
This note is written you in my personal capacity in respect of my employment position. First of all I want to
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say thank you for the support that you have each given me in recent days.
As you are aware, the Project Pineapple file note we have been discussing contains very disparaging
assertions about me, which as you know I am extremely distressed about. I want to put on record that I
strongly reject the assertions in the file note insofar as they relate to me. For example:
1. In response to the assertion “Foat uses his leadership of the Inquiry team as an instrument of
power’, I have not sponsored the Inquiry work for the Post Office since July 2023, and, following
POL’s Inquiry solicitors obtaining advice on conflict of interest, I do not attend the Inquiry Steerco
meetings and am frequently asked to leave the room at GE meetings on the Inquiry matters.
Because of this, I no longer provide any substantive advice in relation to the Inquiry and this has been
the case for some time.
2. The note also contains a number of misunderstandings about the operational structure and
accountabilities of the Post Office, including:
(i) Project Phoenix, for which accountability has rested with the inquiry director since at
least July 2023 and which is managed by others in the business through a Panel since
at least October last year. I have clear documentary evidence strongly contradicting the
assertion that I allowed this project to "go into the long grass"; and
(ii) The investigators referred to in the note do not sit in the ACI (headed up by John
Bartlett (JB)) for which I am accountable. Stephen Bradshaw is also not a part of the ACI
or LCAS function.
3. In relation to my views of postmasters, the file note neither reflect my views of the postmasters and
the legal issues nor is it consistent with any advice I have given to Post Office.
4. In relation to the assertion that while I am “at the helm nothing will change”, as GC I am an adviser
to Post Office. During my tenure, my advice and recommendations have brought about a number of
tangible changes.
One of the concerning features of the file note is that it appears to be advocating my removal without any
proper process being followed.
Regrettably, I have to raise that this file note comes in the following context. The Chair as you know is
being investigated under Project Rose in relation to allegations about his personal conduct, including
discrimination. He has been very angry with me on several occasions when I refused to make the
investigation “go away”. There have been other issues, including the Chair being unhappy that I would not
reveal the identity of a whistleblower. In light of this context and the fact that the allegations are baseless, I
can only assume that this context is the reason the Chair is advocating for my removal.
I have already raised previously the toll that is being taken on ] It is with a heavy heart,
especially given my role, that I feel the need to write in these ‘or your support in seeking
to resolve them. I note that Ben was intending to meet with Karen to discuss this last Friday and I would
welcome a discussion on the way forward. Karen has directed that I take time off “business as usual” work
to focus on document review for the Inquiry (not in response to the assertions made in the file note), but I
will of course make time for us to speak.
I would also ask for the Post Office’s support in meeting my legal fees in addressing Project Pineapple. In
any event, I consider this is covered by the indemnity in my contract of employment, albeit at this stage it is
not possible for me to provide a cost estimate for Farrers involvement as the way forward is not yet clear.
Please can you confirm you will meet my reasonable legal fees in respect of seeking external support on
this issue, separate from the ongoing workstreams to prepare me to give evidence to the inquiry?
Separately, there are a number of important outstanding issues which I would also like to discuss with Nick
and seek help in addressing. I will be in touch with Nick and Karen in relation to those.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Ben
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Ben Foat (He/Him)
Group General Counsel
100 Wood Street
ondon
2V 7ER