Latest news with #PostOfficeScandal
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Crick sub-postmaster performs in Britain's Got Talent final
A postmaster who sings with a choir of people affected by the Post Office scandal said he was "50% gutted and 50% grateful" after failing to win the final of Britain's Got Attridge, who runs a branch in Crick, Northamptonshire, took to the stage with 40 other singers in the Hear Our Voice rendition of Gigantic by Wills and the People saw them finish seventh while magician Harry Moulding took first Attridge said he was "grateful for being given the chance" to perform on the show. The choir was set up for victims of the Post Office scandal and their than 900 postmasters were prosecuted for stealing because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer choir was favourite to win going into the final and the village of Crick had given their support to Hear Our Voice with posters and bunting on was even a rumour that a concert in Crick church was paused on the night so the audience could vote for the choir. Mr Attridge said the final result left the choir "50% gutted and 50% grateful" and added: "If you'd have said to me when I joined the choir that we were going to be going on Britain's Got Talent as finalists and as favourites, who would have thought that?"We've got to be grateful for the support, grateful for being able to get our message out there". Mr Attridge was the only serving sub-postmaster in the choir and said: "At times, I felt like a bit of an imposter [in the choir]."It's been so horrific and so terrible what they've been through."I'm one of them and they've accepted me which is great, but I haven't had the problems they have and the problems I did have have all been sorted."He added that he was "overwhelmed by the support" from the village of Crick said the world had not "heard the last" of Hear Our Voice. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Coventry woman singing in BGT final in memory of sub-postmistress mum
A singer who is part of a choir performing in the final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent this weekend said she would be singing in memory of her late mum, who was a Ellison, from Coventry, is part of the 40-strong Hear Our Voice choir, which is made of up of people affected by the Post Office Horizon joined the choir to represent her mother Janet Bradbury, who ran a Post Office in Shropshire and was one of the original group of 555 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses who took part in group legal a statement, the Post Office has previously said it was "deeply sorry for the suffering caused to so many people" by its past actions. Speaking to BBC CWR, Ms Ellison said her mother took on a Post Office in 2003 but did not tell her or her sister until 2010."It was meant to be their happy ever after," she said of the business. "After a couple of years that's when the shortfall started to happen and they put [their own] money in."Ms Ellison said he mother was eventually forced to move back to Warwick after losing her business and home and struggled to find permanent accommodation."She'd always worked hard to own her own home and she'd lost everything and we were angry," she said."I think for many years she was frightened that the police were going to knock on her door and drag her away." Ms Bradbury was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in September 2022, with the family saying that doctors told them that it made worse by long-term is a debilitating and terminal condition, which affects people's ability to move, talk and Bradbury died last year, one day after her grandson was joining a support group for people affected by the scandal, Ms Ellison said the idea for a choir was described the experience as "absolutely amazing" and said she had "found a new family"."Being in the choir, is something I'm doing for my mum," Ms Ellison told the BBC."I think she'd be really proud and I think she's be so happy at last, that finally, people's voices are being heard and people are being recognised for what they've gone through."She'd definitely be in the audience cheering on." The Post Office/Horizon IT scandal saw more than 900 sub-postmasters wrongfully prosecuted after faulty software suggested money was missing from their branch Post Office said it acknowledged that victims of the scandal needed answers, as well as justice and redress.A spokesperson added: "The business failed to put postmasters first, did not listen to postmasters, and did not act on concerns postmasters raised with us."We are doing all we can to help get victims answers, including fully co-operating with police investigations to help try to put things right."Fujitsu Group, which developed the software Horizon, said it offered its deepest apologies to the sub-postmasters and their families.A spokesperson added: "Fujitsu Europe's boss has previously said that the firm has a 'moral obligation' to contribute to compensation for sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted as a result of its faulty IT software." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Press and Journal
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Torry homeowners told 'spend thousands yourselves to fix roofs if you want to save Raac homes from demolition'
Torry residents 'bared their souls' as they issued emotional pleas for council chiefs not to demolish their homes – before being told they'd have to cough up thousands themselves to save them. Last year, it emerged that around 500 properties in Balnagask would need to be evacuated as they were built using crumbly concrete at risk of collapse. While hundreds of tenants have since been relocated to council homes elsewhere in Aberdeen, those in homes purchased from the authority have been stuck in limbo. We have launched the Trapped by Raac campaign to help them in their plight, as they face losing out on tens of thousands of pounds by selling their homes at reduced rates. It's an injustice likened to the Post Office Scandal, and thousands have backed a petition calling for action to help these scores of Torry residents. And it was against this backdrop of growing public outcry that emotional homeowners pleaded to spare some homes from demolition in a highly-charged council meeting this week. The affected homeowners behind the Torry Raac Community Group (TRCG) had put forward various ideas for the council to consider – other than just buying their properties at their current value, and then flattening them… Some owners are simply refusing to even negotiate the sale of their homes on these terms. The community campaigners say it's 'not a viable option'. So what were the alternative proposals these long-suffering residents would be willing to consider? A report that went before the showdown committee meeting explained that homeowners would be willing to consider a few different solutions. One would be swapping their properties for another 'of equal value' in Aberdeen, with 'home loss and disturbance payments' from the council. But they are most keen on a proposal to swap their own afflicted properties for another in the Balnagask area. They have identified a cluster of Raac-affected houses which they say could be repaired, with new roofs installed. This would mean some people can stay in their own homes, subject to the crumbly concrete being replaced. Others leaving their properties destined for demolition nearby would be able to move into others – meaning they can stay in the neighbourhood they know and love. Council property experts say the idea of doing up Balnagask properties blighted by Raac to allow this would be 'complex' and 'high risk'. And it would only be a viable option for the local authority 'subject to funding'. The report adds: 'It requires significant coordination and investment of resources and there are unknown risks that would be held by the council.' And as council chiefs roll out a 'masterplan' for the flattened site, they say having these remaining properties in the area might make that 'more difficult'. The main point of contention is that officers 'propose that this is part-funded by owners'. Taking his seat in the council chambers on Tuesday morning, campaigner Raymond Davidson was incredulous at the notion homeowners should cover some of these costs themselves. He said: 'The council approved £13m in funding to acquire these homes and demolish them. In exchange, you'll have displaced 138 people. 'Many may become homeless. 'Our alternative is pragmatic, it would cost £2-3m less than demolition. This isn't pie in the sky, the only barrier is homeowners paying for roof replacements. 'If they could, we wouldn't be here today! 'If they could, the work would be done… If residents can't fund roof replacements then that opportunity disappears – sending us back to mass demolition.' Others backed his 'more compassionate plan', with emotive pleas. Paula Fraser is a recently relocated Torry tenant, who says the past 19 months has 'felt like a lifetime' as children were 'separated from friends' and disabled people 'ripped from their support network' by the moves. She said, 'Our community has been torn apart. 'I know people have turned to alcohol, drinking two bottles a day.' The campaigner later read anonymous testimonies from residents saying they had contemplated suicide, and from relatives of elderly homeowners worried about their 'deteriorating health'. The Press and Journal's Lindsay Bruce has been leading The Press and Journal's Trapped by Raac campaign. Lindsay gave an impassioned speech during the meeting – calling for a fair solution. She said: 'This is a community that is more tight-knit than any other I have come across in my time as a reporter, and it is about to be ripped apart. 'This is about people, not policies and politics. I've sat with pensioners who can no longer enjoy their retirement, and others who can't retire at all. 'We need a solution that is fair and not one that is just eradicating buildings to the ground.' Ultimately, councillors voted to proceed with the plan as it is – which would see all homes demolished. The option of relocating residents within Balnagask would still depend on homeowners contributing cash – which they themselves have ruled out. Labour's plea for any repairs to be fully funded by the council was outvoted by 5-4 by the SNP and Lib Dem administration. The SNP's committee convener Miranda Radley said she was 'disappointed in the tone' of the meeting at times, after Labour's Simon Watson accused her of 'ignoring homeowners and shoving them out the door'. 'If you don't think I am turning over every stone to find a solution to this, I'm speechless,' she added. The housing convener told members she had written to Keir Starmer over the issue. And she urged people to sign the petition calling for the UK Government to take action. She said: 'Only the UK Government can provide a Raac fund to alleviate this financial devastation. 'The Raac crisis is no-one's fault and officers are working as hard as they can to mitigate safety risks to homeowners. 'Proposals that rely solely on council funding to remediate privately owned homes are not considered legally viable at this point.' However, reports that went before councillors confirmed that officials 'recognise the difficulty of some owners in meeting costs on an upfront basis'. And the dossier suggests owners could be 'offered a loan by the council to pay for their contribution towards the works'. Former SNP group leader Alex Nicoll urged his former party colleagues to 'get off the 'blame Westminster' merry-go-round'. After the latest round of talks ground to a halt, campaigners gathered in the Costa coffee shop across from the Town House to continue to press their case with council co-leader Christian Allard. It came after the Torry SNP councillor told us he hadn't visited anyone affected by the life-changing problem on his doorstep. Emerging from the discussions onto Broad Street 20 minutes later, Raymond Davidson was dejected but determined to keep up the fight. He said: 'They're still sticking with their proposals, which will no doubt be rejected by the owners. It's like Groundhog Day. 'The council have committed more money for the demolition than repairing the cluster would cost, which will leave everyone worse off. 'Residents won't have a house, and the land will have little to no value.' Joining him outside the cafe, homeowner Lynn Winstanley tells me she fears any outcome on Raac from Aberdeen City Council will now 'see the homeowners at a loss'. She sighed: 'If people could repair the roofs, we wouldn't be in this situation. 'We need to regroup and decide how we go forward. We will keep fighting, and we're not going anywhere.' And Paula added: 'We're really disappointed. Up until now, we have played nice. 'This isn't about the land, this is about human beings. Family members and communities are being ripped apart. 'I don't know if Torry will ever recover from this.' To read more about the Raac crisis and our campaign click here. Trapped by Raac: 5000 reasons to keep fighting for Aberdeen homeowners impacted by concrete crisis Join our debate on the Raac crisis
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former sub-postmistress 'still fighting' for full compensation
A former County Tyrone sub-postmistress has said she is "still fighting" to get back all of the money she is owed as a result of the Post Office IT scandal. More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer system showed missing payments from their branch accounts. It comes after Sir Alan Bates, who led a redress campaign for victims, wrote in the Sunday Times that his compensation offer was less than half of his claim. The Department for Business and Trade said: "Anyone unhappy with their offer can have their case reviewed by a panel of experts." Fiona Elliott bought a Post Office and shop in the rural village of Clady in County Tyrone with her husband in 2005. She said that she was putting thousands of pounds of her own money to cover shortfalls logged in the system. "Now I'm still fighting to get it back," she told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. Mrs Elliott said she first applied for compensation as a result of the scandal five years ago, but added that she has only been offered 5% of what she believes she is entitled to. She previously told the Post Office Inquiry in 2022 that her losses, including wages and the repossession of buy-to-let properties, was about £1m. "It feels like we have to beg to get it back," she said. "I lost the shop, the Post Office and then I lost buy-to-let properties as well." She added that complex cases, like hers often, face delays when it comes to compensation being paid out. Mrs Elliott said she has appealed her compensation total three times, and has now been advised to apply for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS). This scheme is for sub-postmasters who were not convicted or part of the Group Litigation Order court action, but who believe they experienced shortfalls because of Horizon. This group will be offered a fixed payment of £75,000 or can have an application assessed by the scheme. Mrs Elliott said she feels she has wasted "five years on a scheme that wasn't going to pay me out anyway". "It's just like starting over again. "You're constantly begging with them and constantly appealing and it's just going on too long." Mrs Elliott said she is not sure of how much faith she has in the scheme, and that many sub-postmasters are still waiting to be paid. "I don't think there's very many who have got their full and fair redress and I'm only sitting at a 5% offer at the minute and to get it to 100% it could be a long road," she said. She added that she believes many will take a lower offer than what they're entitled to because they don't want to fight anymore. "I'm going to keep going until the end," she added. In a statement a spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: "We pay tribute to all the postmasters who've suffered from this scandal, including Sir Alan for his tireless campaign for justice. "We have quadrupled the total amount paid to postmasters since entering government." The statement added that it recognises there will be an "absence of evidence given the length of time which has passed" and therefore will give the benefit of the doubt to postmasters. "Anyone unhappy with their offer can have their case reviewed by a panel of experts, which is independent of the government," it added. Why were hundreds of Post Office workers wrongly prosecuted?
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Post Office: County Tyrone sub-postmistress 'still fighting' for compensation
A former County Tyrone sub-postmistress has said she is "still fighting" to get back all of the money she is owed as a result of the Post Office IT than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer system showed missing payments from their branch comes after Sir Alan Bates, who led a redress campaign for victims, wrote in the Sunday Times that his compensation offer was less than half of his Department for Business and Trade said: "Anyone unhappy with their offer can have their case reviewed by a panel of experts." Fiona Elliott bought a Post Office and shop in the rural village of Clady in County Tyrone with her husband in said that she was putting thousands of pounds of her own money to cover shortfalls logged in the system."Now I'm still fighting to get it back," she told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. Postmasters 'left to beg' Mrs Elliott said she first applied for compensation as a result of the scandal five years ago, but added that she has only been offered 5% of what she believes she is entitled previously told the Post Office Inquiry in 2022 that her losses, including wages and the repossession of buy-to-let properties, was about £1m."It feels like we have to beg to get it back," she said."I lost the shop, the Post Office and then I lost buy-to-let properties as well."She added that complex cases, like hers often, face delays when it comes to compensation being paid out. Mrs Elliott said she has appealed her compensation total three times, and has now been advised to apply for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS).This scheme is for sub-postmasters who were not convicted or part of the Group Litigation Order court action, but who believe they experienced shortfalls because of Horizon. This group will be offered a fixed payment of £75,000 or can have an application assessed by the Elliott said she feels she has wasted "five years on a scheme that wasn't going to pay me out anyway"."It's just like starting over again. "You're constantly begging with them and constantly appealing and it's just going on too long." Full compensation 'a long road' Mrs Elliott said she is not sure of how much faith she has in the scheme, and that many sub-postmasters are still waiting to be paid."I don't think there's very many who have got their full and fair redress and I'm only sitting at a 5% offer at the minute and to get it to 100% it could be a long road," she added that she believes many will take a lower offer than what they're entitled to because they don't want to fight anymore."I'm going to keep going until the end," she added. In a statement a spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: "We pay tribute to all the postmasters who've suffered from this scandal, including Sir Alan for his tireless campaign for justice."We have quadrupled the total amount paid to postmasters since entering government."The statement added that it recognises there will be an "absence of evidence given the length of time which has passed" and therefore will give the benefit of the doubt to postmasters."Anyone unhappy with their offer can have their case reviewed by a panel of experts, which is independent of the government," it added.
