Sub-postmaster Sir Alan Bates campaigned for justice (Image: Getty)

       The Government has been accused of inflicting more injustice on victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal by ignoring warnings about a flawed compensation scheme. Senior Labour MP Liam Byrne, chair of the Commons Business Committee, said: “We have warned Ministers again and again that the Horizon redress scheme simply isn’t fair.”

       He issued the scathing verdict after it emerged campaigner Sir Alan Bates had been offered a “take-it-or-leave-it” payment of just half of his original claim. Sir Alan was one of hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly accused of dishonesty or incompetence after money appeared to go missing from their accounts when faulty accounting software was really to blame.

       Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

       Honda Has Done It Again! The New Honda CR-V is Finally Here.MorninJoy | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Keir Starmer issued 'hell to pay' warning if Labour doesn't fix key policy

       250 Comments

       Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of 'working people' with huge benefits announcement

       1177 Comments

       Real reason why Keir Starmer committed his most brazen act of Brexit betrayal yet

       1603 Comments

       DWP issues ￡27 Universal Credit update

       Comments

       Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts

       58 Comments

       MPs fear 'repeat of WASPI scandal' as many state pensioners don't know key rule

       1 Comments

       Starmer has been PM for 320 days and he's already made 13 humiliating U-turns

       23 Comments

       Travellers win landmark court case against council to stay at park-and-ride

       12 Comments

       Keir Starmer set to give '￡9bn' of your money to Mauritius in Chagos betrayal

       282 Comments

       Piers Morgan torn to shreds after moaning ‘Brexit's been a dismal failure'

       39 Comments

       Nightmare for Keir Starmer as Chagos deal talks blocked by High Court

       841 Comments

       Warning to anyone mowing a lawn before 9am

       5 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued chilling warning over Angela Rayner's tax plans

       58 Comments

       GB News issues devastating Trump 'breaking news' as star hits out at President

       12 Comments

       MD: Building Muscle After 60 Comes Down To This 1 ThingApex Labs | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Keir Starmer battling Rachel Reeves over ending two-child benefit cap in new u-turn

       53 Comments

       Angela Rayner declares war on Rachel Reeves in Sky interview demanding benefit U-turns

       101 Comments

       Type In Any Name, Wait 127 Seconds, See Instant ResultsFastest Search | Sponsored Sponsored

       Search Now

       Undo

       The real cost of Keir Starmer's Chagos betrayal revealed - its much worse than he claimed

       699 Comments

       Full-time workers ‘claiming thousands in benefits' with tax loophole

       12 Comments

       Remember Jelly Roll? Better To Sit Down Before You See Him Now.Cash Roadster | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of 'gaslighting to a deplorable level'

       155 Comments

       Keir Starmer hands European court power to impose EU rules on UK in leaked Brexit reset

       187 Comments

       Flight Attendant Reveals How Seniors Can Fly Business Class For the Price Of EconomyAirlines | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Keir Starmer issued 'hell to pay' warning if Labour doesn't fix key policy

       250 Comments

       Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of 'working people' with huge benefits announcement

       1177 Comments

       People Born 1941-1971 Are Due a Large Surprise This MonthSeniorDealToday | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Real reason why Keir Starmer committed his most brazen act of Brexit betrayal yet

       1603 Comments

       DWP issues ￡27 Universal Credit update

       Comments

       Say Goodbye to Rust! This Spray Eliminates It in SecondsRemove Rust With Ease | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts

       58 Comments

       MPs fear 'repeat of WASPI scandal' as many state pensioners don't know key rule

       1 Comments

       The Worst States To Travel in America, RankedBigGlobalTravel | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Starmer has been PM for 320 days and he's already made 13 humiliating U-turns

       23 Comments

       Travellers win landmark court case against council to stay at park-and-ride

       12 Comments

       61 Genius Inventions You Won't Believe ExistUnforgettable Gadgets | Sponsored Sponsored

       Shop Now

       Undo

       Keir Starmer set to give '￡9bn' of your money to Mauritius in Chagos betrayal

       282 Comments

       Piers Morgan torn to shreds after moaning ‘Brexit's been a dismal failure'

       39 Comments

       Killer New Mazda CX-5 is Blowing Americans Away (Take A Look)SUV | Search ads | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Nightmare for Keir Starmer as Chagos deal talks blocked by High Court

       841 Comments

       Warning to anyone mowing a lawn before 9am

       5 Comments

       61 Genius Inventions That Are UnbelievableUnforgettable Gadgets | Sponsored Sponsored

       Shop Now

       Undo

       Keir Starmer issued chilling warning over Angela Rayner's tax plans

       58 Comments

       GB News issues devastating Trump 'breaking news' as star hits out at President

       12 Comments

       Keir Starmer battling Rachel Reeves over ending two-child benefit cap in new u-turn

       53 Comments

       Angela Rayner declares war on Rachel Reeves in Sky interview demanding benefit U-turns

       101 Comments

       The real cost of Keir Starmer's Chagos betrayal revealed - its much worse than he claimed

       699 Comments

       Full-time workers ‘claiming thousands in benefits' with tax loophole

       12 Comments

       Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of 'gaslighting to a deplorable level'

       155 Comments

       Keir Starmer hands European court power to impose EU rules on UK in leaked Brexit reset

       187 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued 'hell to pay' warning if Labour doesn't fix key policy

       250 Comments

       Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of 'working people' with huge benefits announcement

       1177 Comments

       Real reason why Keir Starmer committed his most brazen act of Brexit betrayal yet

       1603 Comments

       DWP issues ￡27 Universal Credit update

       Comments

       Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts

       58 Comments

       MPs fear 'repeat of WASPI scandal' as many state pensioners don't know key rule

       1 Comments

       Starmer has been PM for 320 days and he's already made 13 humiliating U-turns

       23 Comments

       Don't miss...

       Defiant Kemi Badenoch skewers Nigel Farage - 'don't underestimate me' [LATEST]

       Fears that King Charles is heading for row with Donald Trump over Canada [LATEST]

       Angela Rayner declares war on Rachel Reeves with subtle Sky News swipe [LATEST]

       Kemi Badenoch could be ousted by November - 3 people who couple replace her [LATEST]

       Sir Alan warned that the subpostmaster compensation schemes have been turned into “quasi-kangaroo courts” and he was backed by Mr Byrne, a former Cabinet Minister, who said his committee had warned Ministers “the scheme must be independent, faster and fairer.”

       Mr Byrne said: “Yet time after time, our advice was ignored, rejected and rebuffed. And so injustice lives on. The very system designed to deliver redress now delivers delay.

       Powered By

       00:00/00:32

       10 Sec

       498.9K

       61

       Ed Davey says Post Office lied to him on an 'industrial scale'

       Next

       Stay

       “Sir Alan’s case must be reopened. Our recommendations must be reconsidered. This scandal did more than wreck livelihoods. It broke lives. And justice - long delayed - must be denied no more.”

       Sponsored

       Homes.com | Sponsored Sponsored

       Obama’s former summer home in Massachusetts hits market for $39 million

       Undo

       More than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts.

       Many are still awaiting compensation despite the previous government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for ￡600,000 payouts.

       The group litigation order (GLO) scheme was set up to achieve redress for the 555 claimants who took the Post Office to the High Court between 2017 and 2019.

       But Sir Alan, who was portrayed by actor Toby Jones in ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, said promises that compensation schemes would be “non-legalistic” had turned out to be “worthless”.

       Don't miss...

       Keir Starmer battling Rachel Reeves over ending two-child benefit cap [LATEST]

       Campaigners oppose plan to switch off television broadcasts in 2034 [LATEST]

       Reform celebrate another by-election win over Labour - 78% of vote [LATEST]

       Donald Trump 'laughing at us' over ￡30bn Chagos Islands deal says Kemi [LATEST]

       Trending

       The 70-year-old said: “The subpostmaster compensation schemes have been turned into quasi-kangaroo courts in which the Department for Business and Trade sits in judgement of the claims and alters the goal posts as and when it chooses.

       “Claims are, and have been, knocked back on the basis that legally you would not be able to make them, or that the parameters of the scheme do not extend to certain items.”

       He has also called for an independent body to be created to deliver compensation schemes for this and similar public sector scandals.

       Sir Alan was knighted last year for his services to justice, having founded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA).

       Last month, he sent an email to members of his group, calling on victims to take the Government to court over delays to financial redress, adding that a judicial review would “probably be the quickest way to ensure fairness for all”.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Keir Starmer issued 'hell to pay' warning if Labour doesn't fix key policy

       250 Comments

       Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of 'working people' with huge benefits announcement

       1177 Comments

       Real reason why Keir Starmer committed his most brazen act of Brexit betrayal yet

       1603 Comments

       DWP issues ￡27 Universal Credit update

       Comments

       Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts

       58 Comments

       MPs fear 'repeat of WASPI scandal' as many state pensioners don't know key rule

       1 Comments

       Starmer has been PM for 320 days and he's already made 13 humiliating U-turns

       23 Comments

       Travellers win landmark court case against council to stay at park-and-ride

       12 Comments

       Keir Starmer set to give '￡9bn' of your money to Mauritius in Chagos betrayal

       282 Comments

       Piers Morgan torn to shreds after moaning ‘Brexit's been a dismal failure'

       39 Comments

       Nightmare for Keir Starmer as Chagos deal talks blocked by High Court

       841 Comments

       Warning to anyone mowing a lawn before 9am

       5 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued chilling warning over Angela Rayner's tax plans

       58 Comments

       GB News issues devastating Trump 'breaking news' as star hits out at President

       12 Comments

       The Greatest Enemy of Blood Sugar? Try This Tonight!Magazine Glyco | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Keir Starmer battling Rachel Reeves over ending two-child benefit cap in new u-turn

       53 Comments

       Angela Rayner declares war on Rachel Reeves in Sky interview demanding benefit U-turns

       101 Comments

       Ford Does It Again! The All-New F-150 Just Rolled In!TheFactualist | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       The real cost of Keir Starmer's Chagos betrayal revealed - its much worse than he claimed

       699 Comments

       Full-time workers ‘claiming thousands in benefits' with tax loophole

       12 Comments

       Doctors Beg: Stop Drinking This If You Have Sciatic Nerve PainSciatiEase | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of 'gaslighting to a deplorable level'

       155 Comments

       Keir Starmer hands European court power to impose EU rules on UK in leaked Brexit reset

       187 Comments

       See The Value Of Anyone's' Home By Searching Address (Take a Look)Home Value Lookup | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Keir Starmer issued 'hell to pay' warning if Labour doesn't fix key policy

       250 Comments

       Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of 'working people' with huge benefits announcement

       1177 Comments

       Walmart Cameras Captured These Hilarious 20 Photos.Your Health Agent | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Real reason why Keir Starmer committed his most brazen act of Brexit betrayal yet

       1603 Comments

       DWP issues ￡27 Universal Credit update

       Comments

       Chevy Does It Again! The New Silverado Is Here to Impress!SpellRock | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts

       58 Comments

       MPs fear 'repeat of WASPI scandal' as many state pensioners don't know key rule

       1 Comments

       57-year-old woman lives in a $1 house – Take a look inside!Tips and Tricks | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Starmer has been PM for 320 days and he's already made 13 humiliating U-turns

       23 Comments

       Travellers win landmark court case against council to stay at park-and-ride

       12 Comments

       Always Keep a Bread Clip in Your Wallet (Here's Why)Life Hacks 101 | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Keir Starmer set to give '￡9bn' of your money to Mauritius in Chagos betrayal

       282 Comments

       Piers Morgan torn to shreds after moaning ‘Brexit's been a dismal failure'

       39 Comments

       Social Security Recipients Under $2,384/Mo Now Entitled To 12 "Kickbacks" This Month (Tap for List)SuperSavings | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Nightmare for Keir Starmer as Chagos deal talks blocked by High Court

       841 Comments

       Warning to anyone mowing a lawn before 9am

       5 Comments

       Pain-Free Glucose Monitoring Is Here! Seniors Are Ditching Finger Pricks for ThisGlucose Monitor | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Keir Starmer issued chilling warning over Angela Rayner's tax plans

       58 Comments

       GB News issues devastating Trump 'breaking news' as star hits out at President

       12 Comments

       Keir Starmer battling Rachel Reeves over ending two-child benefit cap in new u-turn

       53 Comments

       Angela Rayner declares war on Rachel Reeves in Sky interview demanding benefit U-turns

       101 Comments

       The real cost of Keir Starmer's Chagos betrayal revealed - its much worse than he claimed

       699 Comments

       Full-time workers ‘claiming thousands in benefits' with tax loophole

       12 Comments

       Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of 'gaslighting to a deplorable level'

       155 Comments

       Keir Starmer hands European court power to impose EU rules on UK in leaked Brexit reset

       187 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued 'hell to pay' warning if Labour doesn't fix key policy

       250 Comments

       Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of 'working people' with huge benefits announcement

       1177 Comments

       Real reason why Keir Starmer committed his most brazen act of Brexit betrayal yet

       1603 Comments

       DWP issues ￡27 Universal Credit update

       Comments

       Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts

       58 Comments

       MPs fear 'repeat of WASPI scandal' as many state pensioners don't know key rule

       1 Comments

       Starmer has been PM for 320 days and he's already made 13 humiliating U-turns

       23 Comments

       No More Finger Pricks! Seniors Love This Pain-Free Glucose MonitorGlucose Monitor

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Walgreens Is Fuming Over New 87￠ Generic Viagra — See Whyfridayplans

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Walgreens Hides This？87￠ ED？Pill That Is？98.7% Cheaperfridayplans

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Seniors Born 1941-1979 Receive 12+ Benefits This Month if They AskUSWalletSaver

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       It is understood that 80% of postmasters in Sir Alan’s group have accepted a full and final redress or been paid most of their offer.

       A Department for Business and Trade spokesman said: “We pay tribute to all the postmasters who’ve suffered from this scandal, including Sir Alan for his tireless campaign for justice, and we have quadrupled the total amount paid to postmasters since entering government.

       “We recognise there will be an absence of evidence given the length of time which has passed, and we therefore aim to give the benefit of the doubt to postmasters as far as possible. Anyone unhappy with their offer can have their case reviewed by a panel of experts, which is independent of the Government.”

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       Related articles Defiant Kemi Badenoch skewers Nigel Farage - 'don't underestimate me' Angela Rayner squirms in BBC Laura Kuenssberg housing clash GB News exposes Donald Trump mistake as Americans flee US for UK 'Our nuclear deterrent remains vital to protect UK security and prevent war'