This appalling miscarriage of justice is a matter I have followed closely for some years as the case in which the 555 successfully challenged the Post Office was determined by the High Court on 16 December 2019, four days after I was first elected. Out of around 200 MPs who were first elected in 2019, I believe I was one of the first to raise this matter in Parliament. You can read my question here.
“Miscarriages of Justice” also fall under my remit as a Minister and I am currently working closely with the Justice Secretary on this issue. There was an announcement by the Prime Minister at PMQs on 10 January, in which he confirmed that new primary legislation would be brought forward to deal with the appeals.
It was also confirmed that:
"In order to speed the flow of compensation for those in the Group Litigation Order scheme (who were part of the High Court Group Litigation Order), the Government has announced that we will now make an upfront offer of £75,000 which will save them from having to go through a full assessment. If they believe they are entitled to more, they are welcome to continue with the full assessment."
Not that it is of any particular importance but Alan Bates (and the other sub-postmasters) were represented in court by my cousin, a barrister called Patrick Green at Henderson Chambers. I have considered carefully much of Patrick’s analysis of what went wrong as well as the findings of Mr. Justice Fraser, and subsequently the Court of Appeal when they quashed the first criminal convictions in April 2021.
The formal inquiry into the matter is due to conclude this summer but before it does, I believe there are some obvious questions that need answering: not least how the Post Office were able to prosecute so many people without disclosing information that was critical to their defence concerning the defects with Horizon. And why it is that there were effectively able to reverse the burden of proof in the criminal courts. All that the Post Office were able to establish was there were irregularities in the system. They were unable to prove either loss or causation and yet hundreds of people were convicted.
As you may know, Paula Vennells has confirmed she will hand back her CBE. I believe that this is the right decision.
You may also be aware of Hasmukh Shingadia, the Sub-Postmaster at Peach's Store in Upper Bucklebury who had his name dragged through the mud in 2015, before he was exonerated by the Court of Appeal in 2021. I am determined that all issues of his compensation (which are now being run by the Department of Business in conjunction with the Post Office) are resolved as soon as possible and will keep you updated as to when this has been finalised.
(January 2024)
