COUNTY Durham MP’s have reacted to an announcement that the government will compensate hundreds of subpostmasters who helped expose the Horizon IT scandal – calling the update “a righting of a historical wrong”.
Hundreds of people that worked for the Post Office across the UK were prosecuted for theft, fraud and false accounting over the last two decades because of the Horizon system, which wrongfully adjudged that people had stolen from Post Office money.
In the aftermath of the scandal, many subpostmasters went bankrupt, due to having to pay money back that they didn’t owe, as well numerous cases of people being convicted and serving jail time for the incident.
Read more: Government to compensate subpostmasters who helped uncover Horizon IT scandal
Despite 555 subpostmasters defeating the Post Office in the High Courts over recent years, and 72 of them having their convictions quashed, a debate about the compensation they are owed has still rattled on.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that ministers will be setting out details of the scheme in the coming months to ensure the subpostmasters receive the same level of recompense as others wrongly accused of financial crimes due to the faulty software.
In a statement, Mr Sunak said: “The Horizon IT dispute has had a devastating impact on postmasters and their families, with many losing their livelihoods or being wrongly convicted for crimes they didn’t commit.
“Without the efforts of these postmasters, this terrible injustice may have never been uncovered so it is only right that they are compensated fully and fairly.
“That is why we have set up this new compensation scheme for those who played a crucial role bringing this scandal to light, which I hope provides a measure of comfort.”
After the judgement from the government today, MPs from County Durham reacted to the news – but did ask for clarity on the scheme for the families of those subpostmasters that are still waiting tor finances.
In Parliament today, North Durham MP, Kevan Jones, referred to those subpostmasters who had died, asking: “I wonder whether the scheme will actually involve their estates, because it would be a complete injustice if those families didn’t get any of that.”
Read more: Bouncer attacked inside Sanctuary nightclub in Scarborough
On the administration of the scheme, he urged the Government to “take it out of the hands of the Post Office”.
On costs, he added: “We’ve got to get this right now, it is a step forward I accept that, but it will not go away minister, he knows that.
Business minister Paul Scully, responded to Mr Jones by saying: “As well as apologies and accountability, people want proper compensation to be paid.
“I’d love say I’ve got a blank cheque from the Treasury but that’s clearly not going to happen from this place.”
Outside of Parliament, North West Durham MP, Richard Holden, said: “The Horizon scandal was utterly horrific. So many honest, decent, hard-working small business people were affected, many of whom have died while waiting for justice.
“I am delighted that the Chancellor has stepped in to ensure that those postmasters who led the fight will finally get the compensation they rightly deserve after the disgusting way the Post Office fought these decent people every step of the way.”
---
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here