Fujitsu braced for double-digit decline triggered by ‘silly show of authorized machismo’

Fujitsu expects its UK gross sales to see a double-digit drop as some controversial public sector wins fail to plug the outlet in its enterprise.

Its deep roots within the UK public sector imply the provider continues to retain profitable contracts the place clients are depending on its companies, however gross sales are falling.

Sources have revealed that Fujitsu bosses anticipate income to fall by 13% within the UK this 12 months, elevating questions on how the corporate pays its share of Publish Workplace Horizon scandal prices.

The UK operation would require an enormous bailout from headquarters in Japan when the invoice for the Publish Workplace scandal arrives. The UK enterprise has been counting on bailouts from Japan totalling £280bn over the previous two years.

Peer James Arbuthnot mentioned there are considerations over the provider’s skill to pay a share of the Publish Workplace scandal prices and blamed its strategy to the scandal for the continued decline in gross sales.

“It’s a self-inflicted decline, as a result of if Fujitsu paid a considerable sum – let’s say half of the cash the taxpayer has already needed to fund – in direction of the redress for the subpostmasters, then in my opinion, the best way could be open to being thought-about for brand spanking new bids. However in a silly show of authorized machismo, they’re refusing to do this,” mentioned Arbuthnot.

The most recent contract blow for the provider was in Northern Eire, the place the Division of Finance changed Fujitsu as a part of a brand new HR and Oracle companies contract generally known as Integr8. Fujitsu beforehand provided components of the contract’s predecessor, however based on Tussell, the brand new contract was awarded to Model 1 Software program final month.

The place public sector clients are extremely depending on Fujitsu, it continues to win big contracts. For instance, the House Workplace prolonged Fujitsu’s Legislation Enforcement Group Community contract in November 2024 by way of a £15m deal, regardless of the provider being investigated in a Publish Workplace scandal probe.

In July 2025, HM Income & Customs signed off two contracts with Fujitsu value a complete of £280m as the federal government division makes “bridging” preparations whereas it decouples from Fujitsu datacentres and self-assessment system internet hosting.

The Publish Workplace Horizon scandal has value UK taxpayers billions of kilos in authorized prices and compensation funds for victims. In February, peer Kevan Jones, who has campaigned for subpostmasters in search of justice for over a decade, mentioned Fujitsu ought to have paid an interim cost of £300m.

However the provider has dragged its toes and won’t decide to a cost till the Publish Workplace scandal statutory public inquiry has been accomplished, with its closing report anticipated subsequent 12 months.

Strain is mounting. Earlier this month, 75 politicians, together with Arbuthnot, referred to as for a right away assessment of Fujitsu’s “eligibility to bid for essential authorities companies” within the gentle of its central function within the scandal.

“This isn’t solely about cash,” wrote the politicians in a letter to the prime minister. “It’s about justice, accountability, and whether or not it’s morally acceptable for Fujitsu to proceed to revenue from the general public purse. The Publish Workplace scandal destroyed lives. That injustice should not be compounded by the continued awarding of profitable authorities contracts.”

When the second a part of the general public inquiry report is revealed subsequent 12 months, Fujitsu can be uncovered to large public stress. The primary a part of the report, which centered on the human struggling, discovered that it couldn’t be dominated out that the scandal induced 13 suicides. Half two will expose Fujitsu’s function on this.

Fujitsu had not responded to questions when this text was revealed.

The Publish Workplace scandal was first uncovered by Laptop Weekly in 2009, revealing the tales of seven subpostmasters and the issues they suffered because of the accounting software program (see timeline of Laptop Weekly articles in regards to the scandal beneath).