Campaigning hero Alan Bates has urged victims of the Post Office scandal to take the government to court over compensation delays.
The former subpostmaster, who featured in the ITV hit-drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, suggested it could take until 2027 before all the claims are finished – based on current progress. In an email to other victims seen by Sky News, Sir Alan said going to court was “probably the quickest way to ensure fairness for all”.
More than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after the faulty Horizon IT system made it look like they were swindling cash. Sir Alan, who led 555 subpostmasters to victory in the High Court in 2019, has called for those responsible for the scandal to be prosecuted.
Sir Alan said the GLO – the group litigation order – for the 555 people whose legal action was successful was “a mess”. He said advice on how to speed up the scheme has been ” ignored out of hand with the feeblest of excuses”.
He suggested legal action was the “quickest way to ensure fairness for all” although he admitted that “returning to the courts may seem to be a long haul”. The email went on: “There may be other options but the one which is repeatedly mentioned is a judicial review, not just for the GLO Scheme but to include all of the schemes to ensure there is parity in the way victims have, and are, being treated.”
Last month the Business and Trade Committee chairman, Labour MP Liam Byrne, warned many feel like they face a “second trial” as they try to clear their names and get compensation. At the end of February £768million had been paid out – with more than half of that sum awarded in the last six months.
The government rejected Sir Alan’s prediction that it would take until 2027 for all claims to be settled, arguing that it was “settling claims at a faster rate than ever before”.
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A Government spokesman said: “We do not accept this forecast. The facts show we are making almost 90% of initial GLO offers within 40 working days of receiving completed claims. As of 31 March, 76% of the group had received full and final redress, or 80% of their offer. So long as claimants respond reasonably promptly, we would expect to settle all claims by the end of this year.
“We have trebled the number of payments under this Government and are settling claims at a faster rate than ever before to provide full and fair redress.”
A years-long public inquiry into the scandal has concluded its public evidence hearings and is now analysing all the evidence and drafting its final report. Sir Wyn Williams, Chair of the Inquiry, said: “People have waited long enough to hear the truth about events that had such adverse consequences on their lives. So, I am determined to provide answers to those directly affected as swiftly as possible.”
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