Subpostmasters in a sentence

People have been left ‘outraged’ after the Post Office has 'halved leavers payment for subpostmasters' affected by the Network Transformation programme.

According to the latest government figures, 201 of the eligible 492 subpostmasters in the GLO scheme have received their payments in full.

A Government Bill has been introduced to quash the convictions of subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted on the basis of faulty accounting software named Horizon.

A law aimed at exonerating subpostmasters caught up in the Horizon scandal is expected to be brought forward “as soon as possible next month”, Kevin Hollinrake has said.

Almost a decade later, Bates and five others took the Post Office to the High Court, representing more than 500 subpostmasters.

Beer said that those individuals also attend face-to-face “good faith” meetings with subpostmasters, despite their historical actions.

Commenting on the culture within the in his witness statement to the inquiry, he said: “It is clear that the Post Office’s corporate culture is at the root of this scandal, and I want to make sure the system works for subpostmasters.

Despite the length of their battle – and support from the Mail and others – it wasn't until last January that interest peaked when the ITV drama introduced millions of viewers to the injustice done to subpostmasters and mistresses.

Fujitsu staff feared being “hauled over the coals” after realising the Post Office was using “manipulated” audit data to criminally investigate subpostmasters, the Horizon IT inquiry heard.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has said the Government will not be “distracted or deterred” from providing compensation to wronged subpostmasters, after the Post Office said it stood by more than 350 Horizon scandal prosecutions.

Hundreds of subpostmasters are still awaiting compensation despite the Government announcing that those whose convictions have been quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts.

Hundreds of subpostmasters are still awaiting full compensation despite the Government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts.

In other developments, Labour MP Kevan Jones warned on Thursday of a potential “second scandal” involving the Post Office after concerns were raised that subpostmasters were convicted over losses involving another IT system.

Jason Beer is now questioning Angela van den Bogerd on the Post Office forcing subpostmasters to pay money back.

More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted by the Post Office for allegations such as theft and false accounting – with many sent to prison or bankrupted.

Mr Patterson told the Business and Trade Committee "we have already stated that there was remote access to the systems" but denied there was a "covert unit" gaining access to subpostmasters' computers without their knowledge.

Mr Yousaf added that subpostmasters and subpostmistresses have “waited far too long” for justice and compensation in the scandal.

MSPs from across political parties yesterday united to vote through emergency legislation that will automatically exonerate subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted as a result of the faulty Horizon IT system.

Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates has said the Labour Government has not contacted subpostmasters and has left them “at a standstill” over the Horizon IT scandal.

The accusations devastated the lives and families of hundreds of subpostmasters and subpostmistresses, many of whom lost their jobs and homes.