Fujitsu ‘not a parasite’, boss says while refusing to give redress figure for Horizon IT scandal victims

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Mark SweneyJanuary 6, 2026 at 06:37 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Fujitsu's European boss, Paul Patterson, defended the company against accusations of being a "parasite" on the British state before a UK parliamentary committee. The committee questioned Fujitsu's refusal to provide a compensation figure for victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, despite admitting the faulty system caused wrongful prosecutions of over 1,000 people. Patterson stated Fujitsu has a "moral obligation" to provide redress but has not yet committed to a specific amount. Fujitsu currently holds UK government contracts, including maintaining the Horizon system, worth approximately £500 million. While Fujitsu voluntarily suspended bidding on new government contracts in January 2023, Patterson stated they continue existing contracts at the government's request to avoid detrimental societal impact.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Japan 35% Cabinet Office 40% Commons business and trade committee 50% Liam Byrne ×260% UK government ×470% Horizon IT scandal ×375% Post Office ×580% Paul Patterson ×485% Fujitsu ×895%

Keywords

horizon it scandal 100% fujitsu 90% government contracts 80% financial redress 80% post office 70% compensation 60% miscarriage of justice 60% faulty software 50% public inquiry 40%