Eamonn Holmes says Post Office scandal is 'absolute disgrace'

       Rishi Sunak has confirmed a review of Post Office prosecutions after ITV aired a drama into the scandal.

       The Prime Minister said the Government is "looking at" the option of exonerating all postmasters involved in the Horizon scandal, as well as stripping the Post Office of its role in the appeals of those who have been wrongly convicted.

       Speaking to the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, the Prime Minister said: "The Justice Secretary is looking at the things you've described.

       "It wouldn't be right to pre-empt that process, obviously there's legal complexity in all of those things. He is looking at exactly those areas that you've described.

       "It's right we find every which way we can do to try and make this right for these people who were wrongfully treated at the time. Compensation is a part of that but there may be legal things that may be possible as well, and that's what the Justice Secretary is looking at."

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       More than 700 Post Office branch managers were handed criminal convictions after faulty Fujitsu accounting software called Horizon made it appear as though money was missing from their outlets.

       The issue has come under fresh scrutiny after ITV documentary Mr Bates vs The Post Office: The Real Story.

       Mr Sunak said: "Everyone has been shocked by watching what they have done over the past few days and beyond and it is an appalling miscarriage of justice.

       "Obviously it's something that happened a very long time ago in the '90s but actually seeing it and hearing about it again just shows what an appalling miscarriages of justice it is for everyone affected and it's important that those people now get the justice they deserve, and that's what the compensation schemes are about.

       "The Government has paid out about ￡150 million to thousands of people already.

       "Of course we want to get the money to the people as quickly as possible, that's why there are interim payments of up to, I think, ￡600,000 that can be made.

       "There are three different schemes available and for anyone affected they should come forward."

       But veteran broadcaster Andrew Neil said Mr Sunak's response did not go far enough.

       In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Neil said: "Too much 'business-as-usual' in Rishi Sunak’s remarks about the sub-postmasters this morning. He doesn’t get the scale of the national outrage.

       "He should have announced Alan Johnson as head of new compensation agency, with all claims generously settled this year and bill sent to Post Office.

       "Plus instructed government lawyers to resolve all miscarriages of justice this year too, with additional compensation. And encouraged the National Crime Agency to pursue criminal charges against Post Office executives."

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