MPs call for Post Office to be stopped from running Horizon compensation schemes

The Post Office needs to be removed from running redress schemes for victims of the Horizon scandal to prevent justice from being further delayed, a parliamentary committee has said.

- Simon Goodley

In a report published today, one year to the day since the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office brought the scandal to widespread public attention, the Commons business and trade committee said compensation for victims was still not being paid quickly enough.

It said the government should face financial penalties if the process did not speed up and added that the state-owned Post Office Ltd had spent £136m on legal fees relating to the four Horizon redress schemes, including £82m to just one firm, Herbert Smith Freehills, for legal advice on the two compensation schemes administered by the Post Office.