Latest news with #HorizonIT
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
More than £1 billion paid to those wronged by Horizon scandal, Government says
More than £1 billion has been paid in financial redress to subpostmasters wronged by the Horizon IT scandal, the Government has said. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said money has now been paid out to more than 7,300 subpostmasters across all Horizon-related redress schemes. The announcement comes just weeks after lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Sir Alan Bates said the schemes had 'turned into quasi-kangaroo courts'. Sir Alan told the Sunday Times last month that DBT 'sits in judgement of the claims and alters the goal posts as and when it chooses'. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Many are still awaiting compensation. In figures published on Monday, DBT said £559 million has been paid out to 6,337 claimants from the Horizon shortfall scheme. The data also says that of the 555 people who joined Sir Alan Bates in taking the Post Office to court between 2017 and 2019, also known as the Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO), 488 have received £167 million between them. Elsewhere, £245 million has been paid out to 463 subpostmasters who had their convictions quashed by legislation put in place last summer, and £68 million has been paid to those who have had their convictions quashed in the courts, DBT said. Post Office minister Gareth Thomas said: 'Since entering Government, it has been our priority to speed up the delivery of compensation to victims of the Horizon scandal and today's milestone shows how much progress has been made. 'We are settling cases every day and getting compensation out more quickly for the most complex cases, but the job isn't done until every postmaster has received fair and just redress.' Post Office chief executive Neil Brocklehurst said: 'I welcome the news that over £1 billion has been paid to victims of the Horizon IT Scandal. 'Each week we are seeing more people receive their final settlements so they can begin to look beyond this painful chapter of their lives. 'However, I am also aware that more work remains to be done so that all victims receive full redress as quickly as possible and this is an absolute priority for the Post Office. 'And finally, to anyone else who thinks they may have been affected, I encourage you to come forward and apply for redress.'
Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Times
Post Office victims offered ‘pathetic' payouts: 0.5% of their claims
Dozens of postmasters caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal have been offered compensation of just a fraction of their original claims, according to a forensic accountant working on their cases. Kay Linnell, a former chief investigating accountant at the Inland Revenue, now HM Revenue & Customs, described the offers made to victims as 'pathetic' and argued that the compensation schemes seemed 'designed to fail'. She is aware of about 30 subpostmasters who have received offers of between half a per cent and 15 per cent of their original claim. While many are reluctant to speak out while their claims are still being processed, The Sunday Times has been told of one former subpostmistress who has been offered just 0.56 per cent of what she believed she was entitled to. Linnell, 70, has been fighting alongside Sir Alan Bates for 12 years to secure justice for hundreds of subpostmasters who were wrongly fired and prosecuted by the Post Office due to financial shortfalls in their branch accounts. Those shortfalls were found to be the fault of the Horizon IT system — yet the Post Office continued to prosecute victims even after it was alerted to potential problems. Linnell, who was appointed OBE in January for services to justice, worked with Bates's Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) free of charge and was one of the figures portrayed in the ITV drama series Mr Bates vs the Post Office. She became involved through her business partner, Barbara Jeremiah, who got to know Jo Hamilton, one of the most high-profile victims, because she bought lunch at her Post Office in their small Hampshire village every day on her way to work. More recently, Linnell has been helping with compensation claims for the 555 subpostmasters who secured a High Court ruling against the Post Office in 2019. They are eligible for compensation via the group litigation order (GLO) scheme, which is one of four schemes being administered by the Department for Business and Trade. Claimants can opt for a fixed sum of £75,000 or to seek an individual settlement of their losses, likely to require a higher payout. The claims are initially assessed by the business department but if there are disputes the cases can be referred to an independent panel for review and ultimately to the independent reviewer, who is a retired High Court judge. As of March, 282 of the 446 claims made had been paid, although 155 of those settled accepted the £75,000 fixed payment. However, growing numbers of subpostmasters believe the scheme is denying them the compensation they deserve. Last month, Bates said the government had turned it into a 'quasi kangaroo court', and assurances that the scheme would be 'non-legalistic' had turned out to be 'worthless'. Officials have been demanding documents from claimants that many had lost years ago. Bates also revealed he had been presented with a 'take it or leave it' offer amounting to less than half his original claim. Linnell said she had been contacted by about 45 to 50 claimants whose offers appeared to be 'substantially undervalued'. She added about 30 of those had received offers worth less than one sixth of their claim, adding these were the cases 'I get most upset about'. Linnell said that 'when you boil down the patheticness of the offers', they were the result of the scheme administrators putting a much lower value on the loss of investments that subpostmasters suffered when they were forced to sell assets to cover their account shortfalls. She added that a similar approach was being taken towards loss of future earnings — the amount subpostmasters should be compensated for losing their livelihoods. Linnell cited the case of one subpostmistress who has been offered 0.56 per cent of her claim. While the woman wishes to remain anonymous, she became a victim of the Horizon scandal shortly after purchasing a small Post Office branch that had generated low profits under the previous owner. She took out a substantial bank loan to add a café and shop. However, when the branch reopened after renovations, she was unable to pay suppliers because the Post Office had taken funds to recoup shortfall losses that were, in fact, the result of Horizon. This forced her to close the branch just six weeks later, at which point the bank demanded full repayment of her loan. The former subpostmistress contacted Linnell when putting together her compensation claim. 'Her claim had gone through all the checks Alan and I agreed should be in place, before the department started moving the goalposts,' Linnell said. 'It came back with an offer that was so pathetic.' Linnell said the dispute arose because the officials assessing her claim did 'not accept her trading and profit forecasts'. Instead, they cited the previous owner's revenue streams, despite the fact that the investments made by the subpostmistress would have meant that the business probably would have generated higher returns in future. 'I've gone back to her lawyers and suggested they submit the business plan that the bank happily accepted when issuing the loan,' Linnell said. Linnell, like Bates, believes the GLO scheme has become overly bureaucratic and legalistic, pointing out that three law firms are involved in the process. 'This is a pro bono scheme, it doesn't need to be following strict legal principles,' she said. She also believes that despite promises made by ministers, the officials involved in the schemes are attempting to reduce the total amount paid out in compensation. Labour has set aside £1.8 billion to settle claims. Linnell added: 'They are finding every legal loophole they can think of, under civil litigation rules, not to pay. It's designed to fail. What they are trying to do is to keep a handle on cashflow.' The government disputes this characterisation. A Department for Business and Trade spokesman said: 'We recognise the suffering that sub-postmasters have endured, which is why this government developed our compensation arrangement in discussion with Sir Alan Bates as well as Dr Kay Linnell and their lawyers, with £964 million having now been paid to over 6,800 claimants across all the Horizon schemes. 'Victims who are unhappy with their offer have access to legal support and an independent panel to review their claim.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hear Our Voice: How choir helps Post Office scandal victims
A singer in a choir made up of victims of the Post Office scandal and their families has described it as the "most joyful" experience which has seen their confidence grow since having their wrongful convictions Brentnall, from Roch, Pembrokeshire, was among hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses prosecuted after its Horizon computer system incorrectly recorded financial said they previously had met only at "horrible events like public inquiries or court dates" in the years it took to clear their names, so some decided to start the choir, Hear Our charity single will help colleagues and their children with many still seeking compensation. A Post Office spokesperson said it "apologised unreservedly" to the victims of the Horizon IT scandal and was focused on paying redress as quickly as Brentnall said: "It's been absolutely fantastic to get to know this group of people even better and do something so positive together. "It's given people something to focus on, and you can certainly see in the group, people have really grown in confidence, not just happiness," he told BBC Radio Wales' Breakfast."It was, it still is, the most joyful thing that I've ever done." The choir reached the finals of ITV show Britain's Got Talent last weekend which Mr Brentnall described as a "fantastic" and "crazy" experience which was "terrifying for everybody"."Everybody stood up and applauded us which was amazing," he added. Mr Brentnall explained the Horizon scandal had not yet been resolved with him and other former postmasters and mistresses trying to settle compensation claims."My claim, and everybody's claim, is not plucked out of thin air - it's put together by forensic accountants and people much cleverer than I am."You submit it and the Post Office and their legal team go through it and come back with a cost minimised claim."Then you have to rewrite it, resubmit, and it's a fight to get to somewhere that's acceptable where, if there was a will, they could just pay everybody's claims tomorrow."
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BGT choir Hear Our Voice dream of show win and Royal gig to bring 'justice'
Post Office scandal victims are favourites to win tomorrow's final - as we catch up with all of the finalists Post Office scandal choir Hear Our Voice look set to take their fight all the way to the King by winning tomorrow night's Britain Got Talent final. The group - made up of victims of the sub postmasters scandal, which saw hundreds of lives ruined by the Horizon IT fiasco - are favourites to be crowned victorious. If they are, they will get an audience with King Charles at the Royal Variety Show. Member Tim Bretnall says it would 'take their story to the highest level.' 'The absolute best bit of this journey has been the audiences reactions and support, and to be able to feel that for Royalty would be unbeatable," he said. 'Winning the show would be huge, we've all spent so long fighting what's felt like an uphill battle, and it's still going on now, but knowing that the public are firmly behind us would mean the absolute world to us. 'It would give our cause a real seal of approval and hopefully a platform to continue to fight for the justice that people deserve, what's already changed my life is the joy that being in choir has brought.' The 40-strong choir was set up a year ago, to provide a happy outlet for their shared pain. Founder Mark Wildblood said it's become "therapy" for them. Hundreds of sub-postmasters were accused or convicted of theft and fraud due to the faulty Horizon system, developed by Fujitsu and installed by the Post Office. It incorrectly financial shortfalls, leading to one of the biggest ever miscarriages of justice. Prosecutions started more than 25 years ago but victims are still fighting for compensation and for those responsible to be held to account. Their story inspired last year's ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. The award-winning show, which starred Toby Jones as campaigning sub-postmaster Sir Alan Bates, led to the quashing of convictions. One whose conviction for was overturned is Tim, 42, who ran a post office in Roch, Pembrokeshire. Speaking ahead of today's final, he says logistics has been the hardest part of the week, not nerves. 'That's the hardest bit of the choir because we are all from all over the country,' he explained. "Strangely nerves haven't really come into it, it feels so good to be standing alongside all my friends doing this, we love the opportunity it's given us.' Promising an emotional performance, Tim teased what fans can expect. 'It's another song that really speak to us all, how we feel now we've come together, it really shows how courage is our talent," he said. 'We've been working on this song for months, we hope it will really give a feeling of how together we've all been brought by doing this.' With a £250,000 prize fund also up for grabs, Tim has big plans for the money. 'If we were lucky enough to win we'd split the money evenly between all the members of the choir - after putting a little into saving for my children I plan to give the majority of my share to the 2 postmasters charities - Lost Chances and Horizon Shortfall Fund," said Tim. Hear Our Voice are one of 10 finalists performing night. We caught up with the rest of the hopefuls ahead of the finale. Guitarist Olly Pearson, 11, says her's overcome a few hiccups ahead of the final. 'I did have a problem with my guitar set up which I had to spend a lot of time working on with my grandad to stop one note 'choking out', he explained. But it's all sorted now!' Olly wants to treat his grandad if he wins. 'First thing I would do is buy my Grandad his dream guitar a USA Fender Strat to say thank you for teaching me!' he promised. Magician Harry Moulding, 24, is going all out to try win with a never before seen trick. 'All I can say is that it's going to be the biggest thing that I've ever tried to do," he teased. "I don't think any magician has ever done this before. And I'm pretty sure that no magician has ever done it on Britain's Got Talent or on live TV. So just expect for this to be the biggest one yet.' Swiss dance troup The Blackouts are promising another spectacular light and dance show with a heartwarming message. 'Our final show is called Thank You Britain,' explains Elias. 'It's our way of expressing just how much this experience — and the kindness of the British public — has meant to us. You've welcomed us with open arms, and this is our love letter back to you. Expect emotion, energy, surprises and a lot of light — not just in the technical sense, but in the way we hope it makes people feel.' Glaswegian singer Vinnie McKee, 29, is channeling his nerves and emotions into his performance - which he says will be a tearjerker. 'I'm extremely nervous but more excited than ever before!' he admits. 'You will need to have tissues at the ready as I'm doing my own version of an emotional classic that's never been performed like this before.' Mum-of-one Stacey Leadbeatter, 29, has big plans for what she'll do with the prize money if she wins - hoping it will help her grow her family. 'If I was to be lucky enough to win, I promised that I would take my little girl to Disneyland!' she begins. 'I've promised her that one day I'd do that and this would help! I'd also use the money to help with funding to extend my family by looking into getting IVF and also it would help a great deal towards wedding costs and also releasing my own music.' Gymnast Binita Chetry, nine, is the youngest finalist of the series - and while she may be small, she's certainly mighty. 'It's great because I look small but my performance is as impactful as someone bigger than me,' she said. 'I feel the advantage of being the youngest contestant is I get all the love and care of others and that makes me happy. 'I want to inspire all the young girls that no matter how young you are if you have a passion for something you can do anything.' Italian dance troupe Ping Pong Pang are promising an 'original, wild, and full of rhythm' show, which they hope takes them all the way to the Royal Variety Performance. Patrizio Ratto said: 'As always, we'll mix dance, energy, and our unique style with rackets and ping pong balls. Performing for royalty is something beyond imagination. We would live it with deep respect, emotion, and all the wonder we carry in our hearts. We'd just have to polish our rackets a bit first! Drag opera singer Jasmine Rice, 37, is promising another show stopping performance - and outfit - but says she's struggled with hay fever in the lead up to the final. "Aside from the usual pre-show butterflies, this British hay fever has me in a chokehold!" said the New York native, who overcame the secret heartbreak of losing her grandmother to progress to the final."I landed here and thought my nose was auditioning for a solo of its own. But with that all aside I know now it's just me, my voice, and that big, fabulous stage." Comedian Joseph Charm, 32, says he wants to win the show for his family. The dad-of-two, whose mum got involved by hitting the golden buzzer, shared: 'Winning the show would be incredible but nothing will ever trump giving my mum that special moment, that will live with me forever.' On the prize fund, he said: 'That's a lot of money… it would finally allow me to pay for one month of nursery.' Watch the BGT final tomorrow on ITV from 7pm.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Post Office payouts 'not by kangaroo court', says oversight body
Compensation for sub-postmasters is not being decided by a "kangaroo court", the body overseeing the payouts has said, pushing back against allegations made by Sir Alan Bates. Sir Alan, who led the campaign for justice, said he had been made a "take it or leave it" offer that was less than half the amount he was "goal posts" had moved and claims had been "knocked back", he said, in ways he saw as unfair to sub-postmasters, many of whom have been waiting years for the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board has rejected his criticism, saying it was following a process agreed by Sir Alan, designed to resolve the outstanding cases. Writing in the Sunday Times, Sir Alan had suggested the process was not following established standards, describing it as a "quasi-kangaroo court".The board, made up of parliamentarians and academics, issued a statement on Tuesday saying: "We do not agree [with the criticisms]."It said Sir Alan had been "closely involved" in setting up the process for deciding compensation, which included a final assessment from a "highly respected" judge."That was what happened in Sir Alan's case," the board said. "It is only a 'take it or leave it' decision in the sense that at some stage the matter has to come to an end and someone has to decide, in order to bring fair closure to so many who have been harmed." Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted after the faulty Horizon IT system indicated shortfalls in Post Office branch Alan led a group of 555 sub-postmasters who took part in the landmark group legal action against the Post fight for justice was brought to wider public attention last year by an ITV drama about the scandal, Mr Bates vs The Post government went on to set up a specific compensation fund to ensure these sub-postmasters received extra money to reflect the gravity of their situations, but progress has been described as slow and many are still waiting for a the Group Litigation Order (GLO) scheme, claimants can either receive £75,000 or seek their own Alan said the latest offer made to him amounted to 49.2% of his original said promises that compensation schemes would be "non-legalistic" had turned out to be "worthless".
