Sir Alan Bates threatens legal action over compensation delays

Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates has threatened legal action if financial redress for victims doesn't come soon.

Sir Alan, speaking soon after being knighted at Windsor Castle by the Princess Royal, told Sky News, "If we need to fundraise for a court case, we will."

Last week, Sir Bates proposed a March 2025 deadline for financial redress for those caught up in the Post Office scandal.

"They (financial redress schemes) can't be allowed to drag on for years again," he said. "There's no reason it's just the bureaucracy driving them into the ground again.

"There are potential legal avenues we can take but it's going to then be another year, 18 months, for the group," he added.

"If we can't get these things resolved shortly, if we can't get an affirmation from them of a March 2025 deadline, then we may as well follow other routes."

He added that if the knighthood helps "take our battle forward" - then it is "a real honour from that point of view."

Sir Bates also stated that he has not heard a word from the new government on the compensation schemes.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson, however, stated that since July, the department has taken swift action to launch the new Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme and announced a new appeals process in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme in order to speed up payments further.

"Although we support targets that show how quickly offers are made after claims are submitted, we are concerned that setting a target for the GLO scheme would put pressure on vulnerable postmasters who may need more time to finalise their claim with their lawyers.

"Almost £290m has been paid to over 2,800 claimants across four compensation schemes, but we know there is more to be done, and we are committed to ensuring every postmaster receives full and fair redress as quickly as possible." said the spokesperson.