Post Office campaigner says he will reject ‘offensive’ compensation offer

Former subpostmater Alan Bates said he had been offered ‘around a sixth’ of the requested amount after Horizon IT scandal.

Alan Bates (centre) speaking outside the High Court in London (PA) (PA Archive)

The former subpostmaster who has led the campaign for justice in the Post Office Horizon scandal said he will reject an offer of compensation from the Government.

Alan Bates, whose two-decade fight inspired the ITV series Mr Bates vs The Post Office, told The Daily Telegraph the offer was “offensive” and “cruel”.

The Government confirmed plans for “full and fair compensation” to subpostmasters affected by the IT scandal in 2022.

But Mr Bates said the compensation offer had been “around a sixth” of what he requested.

If my case is an example of the way they are going to treat all cases, we may as well start looking at a legal action again and let the judiciary decide

Alan Bates

He told the Telegraph: “‘Full and fair’ might be His Majesty’s Government’s interpretation, but in reality the offer is derisory, offensive and after all this time, yes, cruel.

“I will absolutely be turning this offer for financial redress down.

“It’s just a terrible way to treat human beings – and I have heard from several subpostmasters who have received similarly derisory offers, while others are still waiting.”

He said the offer had been made on Wednesday, 111 days after his claim – prepared with the help of forensic accountants engaged by his lawyers – had been submitted.

“I have been in the queue along with all the others in the scheme, but if my case is an example of the way they are going to treat all cases, we may as well start looking at a legal action again and let the judiciary decide.”

Mr Bates was among more than 500 people who received an average of about £20,000 after a High Court ruling in 2019.

For the Government, Chief secretary for the Treasury Laura Trott faced repeated questioning over the situation.

She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “We can’t make things happen overnight in Government.

“I absolutely commit to you that we will continue to look at this and see whether we’re getting it right.”