Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates has written to Sir Keir Starmer to remind him that “the clock is still ticking” on the deadline for compensation for victims.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Alan called for a March 2025 deadline for compensation to the sub-postmaster’s victims in the incident. Horizon scandal.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sir Alan told Sky News he had yet to receive a response from the Prime Minister.
“That was over a month ago,” he said.
“I sent him a reminder yesterday. I told him the clock was still ticking and he was now five months away from the March deadline, which I was told could still be achieved by other professionals.
“So let’s get on with it, that’s all we want. Keep it up.”
Later the same day, Downing Street said Sir Keir had now responded to Sir Alan’s letter.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “It was clear that we took the time to consider the issues raised in the letter to the Prime Minister, consider our response, and ensure that it was accurate and substantive, and we obviously co-operated with the relevant departments to ensure that.” The Prime Minister’s response was as complete as possible.
“I believe this response was issued earlier today. Regarding the substance of this issue, the government is committed to getting justice to those affected as quickly as possible, and is doing everything in its power to increase the pace of justice in all schemes.
They said nearly £438 million had been paid to more than 3,100 claimants by the start of this month.
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Sir Alan describes the “change of goals” that underpin compensation plans
Sir Alan appeared before the Business and Commerce Select Committee on Tuesday to answer questions about the apparent delays suffered by victims using various compensation schemes.
He described issues including “changing the objectives” within the “directives and principles” underlying the plans, saying they had “changed on a number of occasions.”
He also said that schemes were often “bogged down” in bureaucracy.
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Taking legal action against the government is a “consideration,” the activist says.
Sir Alan stressed the issue of “justice” in the schemes – asking whether it is the government or the victims who decide.
When asked if his offer was “fair,” he replied: “In whose eyes?”
He also said that potential legal action against the government “is a consideration” if it does not provide compensation by March next year.
However, he raised concerns that it could “halt” the current class action litigation (GLO) regime but said it “may be an option that people are willing to take”.
“It is the deadlines that must be set,” he added. “They (the Department of Business and Trade) are terrified of having deadlines.”