PMQs: New law to exonerate Post Office Horizon scandal victims, Sunak confirms
Rishi Sunak has announced “new primary legislation” to ensure hundreds of wrongfully convicted victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal are exonerated and compensated, following days of mounting pressure.
Speaking in the House of Commons, at his first Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) of the year, he said: “This is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history.
“People who worked hard to serve their communities had their lives and their reputations destroyed through absolutely no fault of their own. The victims must get justice and compensation.”
He added: “Today I can announce that we will introduce new primary legislation to make sure that those convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal are swiftly exonerated and compensated.
“We will also introduce a new up-front payment of £75,000 for the vital GLO (group litigation order) group of postmasters.”
Outlining the measures in the Commons after PMQs, business minister Kevin Hollinrake said the government was taking an “exceptional step”, but argued there were “exceptional circumstances” at play.
“We intend to bring forward legislation as soon as we can to overturn the convictions of all those convicted in England or Wales on the basis of Post Office evidence given during the Horizon scandal,” he said.
Sub-postmasters and mistresses must sign a statement to declare they did not commit the crime, Hollinrake told MPs, as a “proportionate” safeguard to limit fraudulent claims, thought to be a tiny number.
“It means that an honest postmaster will have his or her conviction overturned and just by signing one document can secure compensation,” he added.
Legislation is set to be introduced within weeks, in the hopes of having all convictions quashed by the end of the year. No10 will work with Scotland and Northern Ireland to clear subpostmasters in those nations.
Hollinrake also said he would “endeavour” to find out the total amount taken from innocent Post Office victims, and that ministers’ intention was for legislation to come in “very quickly”.
Labour’s shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said it was important for victims to be exonerated, not pardoned, “because a pardon does imply guilt that is then forgiven”.
No10 has insisted Fujitsu will be held to account if it is found guilty of wrongdoing, while Hollinrake added that “sufficient evidence for… individual prosecutions” may emerge.
But Downing Street was unable to say how many subpostmasters will have their convictions quashed under the new legislation, nor how much compensation payments will total.
It came after the ITV drama Mr Bates vs. The Post Office aired over Christmas which dramatised the subpostmasters’ fight for justice and sparked fresh outcry over the scandal.
Hundreds of branch managers were accused of stealing by the Post Office, when faulty accounting software – Horizon – produced by Japanese tech firm Fujitsu was the real cause.
Victims lost jobs, homes, reputations – and some even took their own lives – in what’s been called the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice.
Just yesterday, former Post Office boss Paula Vennells announced she would hand back her CBE, awarded in the 2019 New Year’s Honours, with “immediate effect”.
While Fujitsu has come under fire, after revelations it had been awarded £4.9bn in public sector contracts, including £3.6bn during Sunak’s time as Chancellor and as Prime Minister – and reported £22m in UK profits in 2022.
Bosses at Fujitsu have been called to answer questions from MPs on the House of Commons business and trade committee next week.