Mail Weekly Column: 15 January 2024

Former Barrow sub-postmistress Isabella Wall came to the very first surgery I held, shortly after being elected in 2019. Like a good number of people who have just watched the excellent ITV series, Mr Bates Vs the Post Office, I had no prior knowledge of Horizon or the shocking scandal that had engulfed so many innocent people. As she laid out her story I was dismayed by what I heard.

Isabella, who sadly died in 2022, lost everything as a result of Horizon. I left that surgery, did my research, and then started campaigning on her behalf, and on behalf of all of those who have lost so much as a result of this injustice, speaking about her and the wider issues a good number of times in the House of Commons, and writing to and lobbying Ministers.

There is no escaping the fact that a horrible, huge, injustice has been done to Sub-postmasters across the country. The Post Office is quite rightly seen as the cornerstone of a community, but its behaviour towards the people who served it was abhorrent. When it became clear that systemic failures were occurring in the Horizon system, they should have acted to fix them and supported their concerned staff. Instead they pulled up the drawbridge, ruined lives, and denied culpability. Their approach was shameful.

The TV show ends in 2019 after the group of 555 Postmasters, of which Isabella was one, were successful in the High Court. Since then, considerable progress has been made. 100% of known Post Office Horizon victims have received interim payments. 100% of those in the original Horizon Shortfall Scheme have received offers (of which more than 80% have accepted), and over 60% of all known victims have accepted a full settlement.

But there is so much more to do and this week, the Government accelerated this work.

Within weeks we will vote to quash all convictions that were based on erroneous Horizon evidence and the egregious behaviour of the Post Office. This will clear people’s names and paves the way for innocent individuals to receive at least £600,000 in compensation.

The Government is also introducing an upfront offer for the cohort of postmasters who originally bought this injustice to the forefront, which will ensure they have access to compensation faster in recognition of the vital role they played.

And crucially, the Government is also consulting the independent Horizon Compensation Advisory Board on how to speed up the roll out of compensation schemes, helping deliver swifter support to the wronged.

Beyond these important points, we have to look seriously at criminal sanctions against those at the Post Office and Fujitsu who were responsible for imposing a flawed system on Sub-postmasters and Mistresses, lying about its inadequacies, and then forcing people into bankruptcy, prison or worse rather than admitting culpability.

Finally, while Paula Vennells has returned her CBE already, I would like still like the Forfeiture Committee to pass a judgement on the matter.

Sadly Isabella Wall passed away in 2022 after a short battle with Motor Neurone Disease, neither having seen the justice nor received the apology that she so much deserved. Her family, quite rightly, want to see those responsible held to account.

I will continue to work towards that goal in Parliament.

In the meantime, Isabella’s family continue to fundraise for MND in her memory. You can donate to the cause here: https://isabellawall.muchloved.com