Sir Alan Bates, a prominent campaigner for victims of the Horizon scandal, has reached a settlement with the government over his claim. His advocacy began over two decades ago, representing a group of 555 subpostmasters who participated in a significant legal action against the Post Office. The specific amount of the settlement has not been disclosed.
Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were wrongfully prosecuted due to flaws in the Horizon IT system, which incorrectly signaled discrepancies in branch accounts. Many others used their personal funds to cover these alleged deficits to avoid legal consequences. The scandal has had profound personal repercussions, with reports of disrupted marriages, serious health issues, addiction, and even premature deaths among those affected.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade acknowledged Sir Alan’s long-standing commitment to advocating for the victims and confirmed that his claim has concluded and been settled. As of September 2025, the total compensation awarded to over 9,100 subpostmasters amounted to £1.23 billion.
Sir Alan’s journey to compensation included multiple offers, all of which he rejected at various stages, describing them as insufficient. He was part of the Group Litigation Order compensation scheme, which offers a set amount or allows for individual settlements. The public awareness of the scandal heightened recently, partly due to its portrayal in the ITV drama “Mr. Bates vs the Post Office.”
An inquiry into the matter revealed that over 13 individuals may have taken their own lives linked to the fallout from the scandal. Earlier this year, Sir Alan accused the government of presenting a “take it or leave it” compensation offer. Many victims have expressed frustration over low compensatory offers and the lack of legal support in navigating the claims process. In response, the government announced that all victims seeking compensation would now be eligible for free legal advice. Multiple compensation schemes exist, each tailored to different victim circumstances, but have faced criticism for their complexity and delays.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr5e723qv0no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss