At Prime Minister’s Questions today 10th January 2024 the Prime Minister announced that the Government will be introducing new primary legislation to make sure those convicted as a result of the Horizon IT scandal will be swiftly exonerated and compensated. Following this, Kevin Hollinrake MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business) provided further details concerning victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal which saw many sub-postmasters and mistresses prosecuted based on the faulty Horizon IT system.
Dr Neil Hudson MP attended PMQs and the delivering of the statement where the Minister confirmed that:
- legislation to be introduced within weeks overturning wrongful convictions of hundreds of postmasters
- exoneration will ensure innocent people can receive swifter compensation
- compensation payments will be expedited for trailblazers who took first legal action against the Post Office
Following the statement, Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“I am so pleased that the Government has acted decisively and compassionately on this dreadful miscarriage of justice. Those postmasters and postmistresses who were wrongly accused are finally receiving the support they need and I hope this provides all of those affected reassurance.
“I know this has been an issue not only my constituents have been passionate about, but also folk right across the country, and I was honoured to be able to be in the Chamber when the Prime Minister and then the Postal Affairs Minister delivered this important news. I fully welcome this and look forward to supporting this legislation through Parliament.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
“This is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in this country’s history, with hundreds of people having their lives ruined and reputations dragged through mud.”
“Too many still have wrongful convictions tied to their name, and we cannot continue to fail them.”
“We must do everything we can to exonerate and compensate these innocent people, and make sure they finally get the justice they deserve.”
Minister for Postal Affairs Kevin Hollinrake said:
“Postmasters have been fighting for years to get the justice they deserve, and today’s announcement will ensure wrongful convictions are overturned and swifter access to compensation.”
“The Post Office Horizon Scandal is widely described as the biggest miscarriage of justice in our history and it’s important that steps like we’ve announced today are being taken to right the wrongs of the past.”
Details of the Government’s announcement can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-quash-wrongful-post-office-convictions
