a huge week for the post office inquiry as it resumes in london. we will bejoined by inquiry as it resumes in london. we will be joined by the post office minister answering the questions of sub—postmaster is in a special edition of bbc breakfast. in other news... a manhunt continues for the person suspected of fatally stabbing a woman in bradford, while she was pushing a baby in a pram. cheers ofjoy — after running from one end of africa to the other, the hardest geezer has finally completed his year—long epic marathon. the state pension is rising from today, but it will drag some into paying pension tax. could that be you? we take a look. witnessing history — millions of people in north america are preparing to experience a total solar eclipse. in sport, a mistake from liverpool in the most exciting title race in years as they draw with rivals manchester united, but should it have been a win at old trafford?

good morning. the weather will be changeable this week. cooler than it was at the weekend, wet and windy at times. some sunshine. then it will warm up for some as we head into next weekend. i will have all the details later in the programme. good morning, it's monday the 8th april. it monday the 8th april. promises to be a beautiful s day it promises to be a beautiful spring day here in fenny compton in warwickshire. we are in this village hall because this is where that mass campaign forjustice in the post office scandal began 15 years ago, this is where the brought together the first of those sub—postmaster is at the time they had no idea what they had in common, where the fight would lead, but they suspected that

something was wrong with that horizon it system, the computer system, and they wanted answers. this morning i'll bejoined by more than 50 people in fenny compton to tell us about their experiences since then, how their lives have been changed by the scandal and the ongoing impact. they will also have an opportunity to put their questions to the post office minister kevin hollinrake live on the sofa. a lot has been going on over the last few weeks with this story. our business correspondent emma simpson has been looking at the story so far. fenny compton. fenny? compton. just the place to start i really annoying the hell out of the post office. she chuckles. the moment in the itv drama where former subpostmaster alan bates picks the spot for the fightback. alan! jo hamilton is there to meet him.

they'd no idea how many would come for the first meeting — but come, they did. hello, jo! hello! the realjo hamilton remembers it well. it galvanised me, certainly — made me so angry when we all told exactly the same stories, and you realised we'd all been shafted. in the beginning, we were just a little circle in the middle. but it ended up — the word spread, and more and more postmasters came. and, er, yeah, we... look where we are. it's been a long road, though. that first campaign meeting in fenny compton was in 2009. eight years later, alan bates took legal action against the post office, and his group eventually won. in 2021, the court of appeal quashed the convictions of 39 subpostmasters in a landmark ruling. the year after, the public inquiry began hearing evidence — starting with the victims. the next phase starts in this room tomorrow. the inquiry has slowly been trying to join the dots,

and it's now focusing on who knew what at the top. centre stage will be former post office boss paula vennells. here she is in parliament defending the horizon it system. if there had been any miscarriages ofjustice, it would have been really important to me and the post office that we actually surface those. and, as the investigations have gone through so far, we've had no evidence of that. of course, there'll be dozens of other witnesses — from board members and barristers, to key politicians and government officials. first up, though, in the witness chair will be alan bates. people have got to be held accountable. i see no sign of it yet, er... but i think after the inquiry, then i think that's definitely the next stage. and then we start looking at prosecutions. notjust that, as well — i mean, huge bonuses have been paid to people over the years. some of that should be clawed back. all eyes are now on what this

inquiry is about to uncover. we've done the groundwork. we've find out the system was broken and that people knew the system was broken. so now we're going to find out what the leaders of the post office did with that information. we are deeply concerned that there is growing evidence that there was a cover—up. victims will be watching. they want accountability, too — as well as full and fair compensation. emma simpson, bbc news. alan bates is on his way to london to give evidence to the inquiry in the next few days, but on their way here to fenny compton right now, a bus—load of sub—postmasters who have travelled from all over the uk to be together with us here on breakfast this morning. some have never told their stories before, some haven't even told their own families they have been through it. but they

wanted to come here today to share their experiences with us and also ask questions of the post office minister kevin hollinrake. that will be just after 8am. as well as hearing about their experiences, some hard braking, and you think you have heard it all but you haven't, believe me. as well as hearing those stories, we also want to get a sense of the community that exists among them. these people who met here for them. these people who met here for the first time 15 years ago are now really good friends. they have fought together, stuck together, they rely on one another, and we will be reflecting on that bond that holds them all together, the friendships. all that to come. but with the rest of the news, let's go back to sally in salford. thank you. a manhunt is under way after a mother was stabbed to death while pushing her baby in a pram in bradford. police are searching for 25—year—old habibur masum after the attack on saturday afternoon.

our north of england reporter, rowan bridge, is there now. morning. what more can you tell us. yes, well there is very little sign this morning of the tragic events which happened here over the weekend. the police cordoned which was in place for much of the weekend has been lifted and the area has been returned back to public use. it was at about 3:20pm on saturday when this 27—year—old woman was walking through this area with her baby in a pram when she was attacked by a man who stabbed her repeatedly and then ran off. the woman died later in hospital from ran off. the woman died later in hospitalfrom her injuries. police have named the man they suspect of her murder is 25—year—old habibur masum from oldham in greater manchester. but the police say he also has connections to other areas in the north west of england and west yorkshire police are liaising with several other police forces across the north of england as part

of this manhunt. police say they have also recovered a knife from the area but do not know if habibur masum is still armed and they have warned not to approach him but rather to contact the police immediately if they see him. they say the woman was known to habibur masum but they have not gone into any detail about the nature of that relationship and they have asked for anyone who may have any information about what happened to contact them. for example, anyone who have —— anyone who may have been an eyewitness or have dash cam footage from a car. police will also have an increased presence in the area to reassure the public in the coming days. reassure the public in the coming da 5. . ~ reassure the public in the coming da s. . ~ , ., reassure the public in the coming da s. . ~' , ., , reassure the public in the coming das. .~g , . rail passengers are being warned to expect disruption on the final day of the latest rolling strikes by train drivers. members of the aslef union are walking out at 1a rail companies, with many commuter routes in east anglia and the south of england affected.

air safety investigators in the us are trying to find out why the casing of a boeing plane's engine ripped off during a passenger flight from denver. online video shows the protective cover flapping against the wing of the aircraft as it returned to the airport. no injuries have been reported. israel's military says that it is reducing its numbers of soldiers from southern gaza, leaving just one brigade in the area. the israel defence forces said that a "significant force" would remain in the territory. it comes as fresh talks about a ceasefire are taking place in egypt — but israeli president benjamin netanyahu said there would be no deal without the return of the hostages seized by hamas. the head of the un's atomic watchdog has condemned a drone attack on a nuclear power plant in southern ukraine. rafael grossi said the zaporizhzhia russian—occupied facility in the south of the country was hit

three times in the attack — and warned it raised the risk of a major nuclear accident. russ cook, the man nicknamed the hardest geezer, has finally crossed the finish line after running the entire length of africa for charity. he set off last april in south africa and has covered the equivalent distance of 385 marathons. he headed north through countries including angola, nigeria and ivory coast before crossing the finishing line in tunisia. ellie price has the story. only the hardest geezer could do it. cheering. russell cook has just run nearly every day for 352 days, covering more than 10,000 miles. let's go! day three. day four. day six. the heavens have opened. he's run through deserts, rainforests, savannahs, mountains and 16 countries.

and so far he's raised more than £700,000 for the running charity and sandblast. bit windy. soon enough, we'll all be in tunisia, sipping strawberry daiquiris on the beach. oh—ho—ho! he's had complications with his health, visas, the weather... he sneezes. highs of 39 degrees out here today. twisted me up! ..and other man—made threats. they said we should go more to the main track. we're going to get blown up over here. really? yes. but he's taken it all in his stride. i'm too damn ferocious, boys and girls! in this final stretch, the 27—year—old had a little help from his friends — a few more running mates than he's used to. he's achieved something no—one else in this world has ever managed. and that strawberry daiquiri! ellie price, bbc news.

that is a giant strawberry daiquiri and doesn't he deserve it? good morning to carol. good morning. the weather this week once again will be fairly changeable. it will be cooler than the weekend, often wet and windy, still some sunshine and then it turns warm in the south as we head towards next weekend. this morning we still have some showers across parts of scotland, some rain coming up parts of scotland, some rain coming up from the south—west, and a lot of cloud. particularly in parts of the south, turning the sunshine hazy this morning. the first batch of rain has steadily northwards, the second batch coming in from the west also pushing northwards. behind that, the winds will pick up, particularly around the coasts of devon, cornwall and the channel islands. some bright conditions across the north—west of scotland with some sunshine and a few showers. the strong winds from this

morning associated with storm kathleen easing as the storm which is away further north through the course of the day. temperatures ranging from ten in lerwick or 18 in any lengthy spells of sunshine in the south—east. if you are hoping to see the partial solar eclipse across parts of the uk this evening, your bill lucky because there is a lot of cloud and a fair bit of rain. the best chance you have is in the western isles so good luck and remember not to look directly at it. as we go through the course of the evening into the overnight you can see how we continue with all this rain, some heavy and persistent, falling as snow above about 800 metres or so across the highlands and, as we can further south, it will still be windy, looking at potential for gales, even severe gales in the south—west. these are our temperatures. gales in the south—west. these are ourtemperatures. five gales in the south—west. these are our temperatures. five to about 9 degrees. thank you. we will talk to you again

soon. millions of people in north america are gearing up for a total solar eclipse later today. the path of totality — the area which will be plunged into total darkness when the moon blocks the sun's light — will extend across parts of mexico, the usa and canada. our north america correspondent, nomia iqbal, reports. music. this park has turned into a family music festival. there's a stage for dancing, food stalls, bouncy castles, and people camped out. the big star everyone is here to see is in the sky. we wait for things like this — to be able to be outside and not stuck inside on doing something, or school, or whatever is going on. to be able to spend time together as a family is amazing — especially to see something so cool. the one in 2017 was the first one i had experienced — or the first total one that i had experienced — and, yeah, it was... it was pretty mind—blowing. the moon will move in front of the sun, blocking its light and plunging the earth into darkness

for up to four minutes in most places. there will be a total eclipse of the heartland — the path of totality will stretch from mexico, across the us and through to canada. the weather is sadly looking cloudy, but everyone is trying to be upbeat. even if you have clouds, you will be able to see the drop in light, the drop in temperature. but one of the great things about a total solar eclipse is you can see the corona — or the outer atmosphere — of the sun, which is this beautiful, stunning thing we don't normally get to see. and, unfortunately, if there's clouds, we won't see that. last time this celestial phenomenon happened in the us was in 2017. you may remember this moment. to view the sky safely, definitely don't do what mr trump did there, and stare right at the sun — these solar eclipse glasses are your best friends. they are much, much darker than regular sunglasses. they block out the light and radiation. they should also carry this authentic label,

which means they meet a high standard of safety. but what if you're visually impaired? scientists have made sure you won't miss out using this box that converts light into sound. if we think about, you know, my finger crossing over as, like, the moon... pitch decreases. ..then it'll slowly change pitch as that light is being blocked into lower and lower pitches, and a slower sound, too, once we hit totality in this case, when that sensor is fully blocked. as we exit back out of that, we can hear it increase in the pitch. pitch increases. the total solar eclipse is not just something you see, but experience with your whole body. you feel temperatures drop, you hear nocturnal animals wake up as day becomes night for several breathtaking minutes. nomia iqbal, bbc news, texas. and one of the people who's made the trip to see the eclipse is ellie macdonald. she is the science communicator and science lead at kielder observatory.

she joins us now from texas. morning. this is a real moment, isn't it? how excited are you to see this total solar eclipse?— this total solar eclipse? good morning- _ this total solar eclipse? good morning- very _ this total solar eclipse? good morning. very excited. - this total solar eclipse? good morning. very excited. the l this total solar eclipse? (emf. morning. very excited. the weather forecast has improved a little bit forecast has improved a little bit for us so we have our fingers crossed over here that we should hopefully see something. truth? crossed over here that we should hopefully see something.- crossed over here that we should hopefully see something. why is an event like this _ hopefully see something. why is an event like this quite _ hopefully see something. why is an event like this quite so _ hopefully see something. why is an event like this quite so rare? - hopefully see something. why is an event like this quite so rare? so - event like this quite so rare? so solar event like this quite so rare? sr solar eclipses, event like this quite so rare? 5r solar eclipses, around approximately once every 18 months but it's about where the total solar eclipse is. it is quite rare for them to pass through put such a populated area. there are about 32 million people living along the path of totality and that is a lot higher than usual. 0k. talk and that is a lot higher than usual. ok. talk to us about the path of totality, what does that mean exactly? totality, what does that mean exactl ? ., ., ., , ,

exactly? the path of totality tells ou exactly? the path of totality tells you essentially _ exactly? the path of totality tells you essentially where _ exactly? the path of totality tells you essentially where you - exactly? the path of totality tells you essentially where you will. exactly? the path of totality tells| you essentially where you will get that full eclipse of the sun. outside of the pack you may only see 90, 80, 70% of the eclipse whereas along the path you get hundred percent. if you are on the central line that is where you will get the longest eclipse, that is where it will last for about four minutes at totality. outside of the centreline introduces a bit but it is still a fantastic thing to see. 50 introduces a bit but it is still a fantastic thing to see.- introduces a bit but it is still a fantastic thing to see. so you are in the usa. _ fantastic thing to see. so you are in the usa. you _ fantastic thing to see. so you are in the usa, you have _ fantastic thing to see. so you are in the usa, you have travelled i fantastic thing to see. so you are i in the usa, you have travelled there just to see this, but is there any chance anyone in the uk or maybe europe might see anything? there is a sliver of a — europe might see anything? there is a sliver of a chance. _ europe might see anything? there is a sliver of a chance. your _ europe might see anything? there is a sliver of a chance. your best - a sliver of a chance. your best chance will be towards the western areas of the uk. i guess north—west probably but it will be difficult because the eclipse will start as the sun is setting so you will need very low horizons. so if the weather is clear where you are and you happen to be somewhere in the

north—west of the british isles, then try and find a hill, i guess, would be my best advice. what then try and find a hill, i guess, would be my best advice. what do events like — would be my best advice. what do events like these _ would be my best advice. what do events like these tell _ would be my best advice. what do events like these tell us _ would be my best advice. what do events like these tell us about - events like these tell us about space, what can we learn? the? events like these tell us about space, what can we learn? they give us a really fantastic _ space, what can we learn? they give us a really fantastic opportunity - space, what can we learn? they give us a really fantastic opportunity to i us a really fantastic opportunity to study the sky as we never normally see it. when the sun is out it is so bright we are not able to see stars in the background, not able to see any planets, really, around it very easily. so in that moment when the sun's disc is blocked and we get that extra darkness, we can see all those things. for this eclipse, at that moment of totality, for people with clear skies they should be able to seejupiter, venus, saturn and mars. there is also a comet available, visible at the moment. and that should be visible if you have clear skies but it should be

quite faint and that is comet pons—brooks. you will also be able to see the sun's outer atmosphere, the moment of totality give you a much easier view. fine the moment of totality give you a much easier view.— the moment of totality give you a much easier view. one of the things i know is very _ much easier view. one of the things i know is very important _ much easier view. one of the things i know is very important is - much easier view. one of the things i know is very important is safety i i know is very important is safety when you are trying to watch the total solar eclipse for your eyes. what do people need to do? if you have eclipse _ what do people need to do? if you have eclipse glasses, _ what do people need to do? if you have eclipse glasses, the - what do people need to do? if you have eclipse glasses, the best - have eclipse glasses, the best advice is to keep those on until the disc is fully obscured. you can't even see a little sliver of a sun. if you can see a little sliver it will not be safe to look at. once you have totality, the sun should be about as bright as the moon, meaning it should be safe to look at, but i would suggest setting an alarm so that you know to put your glasses back on before the sun starts to peek back out. if people don't have eclipse glasses, they can be tricky to come by this late, but it's ok because you can create a pinhole

camera. take a sheet of paper, put a little pain in it and then project that onto the ground or onto another piece of paper and you will see a little projection of the sun being slowly eclipsed, or you can use a colander or in nature leaves will do this as well. colander or in nature leaves will do this as well-— this as well. you can use a colander?! _ this as well. you can use a colander?! yes _ this as well. you can use a colander?! yes was - this as well. you can use a colander?! yes was not. this as well. you can use a. colander?! yes was not one this as well. you can use a - colander?! yes was not one of the wa s colander?! yes was not one of the ways gaining _ colander?! yes was not one of the ways gaining popularity _ colander?! yes was not one of the ways gaining popularity is - colander?! yes was not one of the ways gaining popularity is you - colander?! yes was not one of the ways gaining popularity is you can| ways gaining popularity is you can use a colander to project a little sun they will echo and it can be quite nice because you can draw around them, create little artworks. it all sounds very exciting, we wish you the best of luck and let's keep our fingers crossed for clear skies for you. that is ellie macdonald, thank you so much for talking to us. thank you. thank you so much for talking to us. thank ou. ., ., thank you so much for talking to us. thank ou. ., ~ i. photography is often seen only as a visual medium — but a new exhibition in london is using techniques which mean its pictures can be enjoyed by blind and partially sighted visitors. called world unseen, it uses braille and audio descriptions on its artwork and shows how the world is seen

by the visually impaired. leyla hayes reports. this is how most of us would see this striking photo. but this is how it could appear to someone with a visual impairment. this exhibition in somerset house means that those with sight loss can experience photography in a whole new way. just the little detail in the ears, you know, it'sjust... it's amazing. the images have been printed in 3d, so they can also be touched. it's only raised a maximum of two millimetres off the surface, but yet i can feel the skin of the rhinoceros, i can feel the wound where they cut off the horn. i can feel its mouth and it's eating the grass. all this detail, it's just like, wow. each photo in the exhibition is also accompanied by a full description in braille for those who can't see. campaigners say it's about making art accessible to all.

we want experiences that we can all share and we can all benefit from, and that's what inclusion is about — offering everyone a kind of equitable experience, notjust, "let's put on something for blind people." actually, what we really want is, let's try and find a way to deliver exhibitions that mean everybosy can get something out of it. exhibitions that mean everybody can get something out of it. the new technology has enabled visually impaired mum karen to see a scan of her baby ruby for the first time. it was amazing, like, to have the experience that every other mum that has their scan in the uk is getting to see their baby scan — i got to see mine. i could feel her nose, her eyes, what she was going to look like. and when i first had her, the first thing i did was feel her nose and was, like, "yeah, her nose feels like the scan picture does!" one of the photos was taken by blind photographer ian treherne. yeah, it makes it much more inclusive cos a lot of blind people don't really feel like they can get involved, you know, going to exhibitions —

so this is, yeah, this is amazing. whether you're blind, visually impaired or fully sighted, this exhibition is bringing photography to all. that was leyla hayes reporting. still to come here and breakfast... # they tried to make me go to rehab. # but i said no, no, no... that voice was unique — and the story of amy winehouse's life is just as captivating. we'll hear from the director and star of the new film, back to black, which charts her triumphs and struggles. more on that at 6:50. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. hello, good morning from bbc london.

i'm leigh milner. a further £3 million of government funding has been announced today for hammersmith bridge. the money will be used to resurface a temporary cycle lane on the bridge and make it permanent. it's now been closed to cars for five years this week, whilst the wait for strengthening work continues. a murder investigation has been launched after a fatal stabbing yesterday near tottenham stadium. a man was found seriously injured on northumberland parkjust before 6am, but died at the scene. yesterday's match between tottenham hotspur and nottingham forest went ahead as planned with some road closures in place. more rail disruption is expected across the capital today, as a result of strike action. members of the aslef union are walking out in a row over pay and conditions. today, strikes are affecting greateranglia, c2c, great northern, thameslink and south western railway. services to stansted, luton and gatwick airports will also be impacted.

fire crews called to a recent e—bike fire at a railway station in sutton have described the blaze as "ferocious" and said it could have had "tragic consequences". the london fire brigade have said e—bikes and e—scooters remain the capital's fastest growing fire risk, with 155 e—bike fires and 28 e—scooter fires recorded last year. a renowned disabilities choir based in southend has a very special performance at the royal albert hall tonight. members of the music man project will be joined onstage by singing star michael ball and the band of his majesty's royal marines. the choir is for children and adults with learning disabilities. let's take a look at the tubes now. minor delays on the bakerloo line.

and, on the northern line, there's no service between golders green and edgware due to planned engineering works. let's get the weather with katerina. hello there. good morning to you. the best of our weather today will most certainly be through this morning. we're starting off dry and bright, but this afternoon it will turn increasingly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain. and some of that rain could fall on the heavy side. so sunny spells through this morning, but there is quite a bit of mid to high—level cloud around, so that sunshine may appear quite hazy at times, but through the afternoon it will turn cloudy for all areas with showery outbreaks of rain. you can see the green in this rain indicates the heavier bursts, and we may hear a few rumbles of thunder. we're looking at highs today of around 18 celsius and overall our winds much lighter compared with the weekend. so, through this evening, that showery rain will clear. we'll start off with clear spells. but, through the night, cloud amounts will increase with further showers and those winds will pick up. our temperatures will fall away to around 8 to 9 celsius and then, on tuesday, will turn increasingly windy through the day. for us, we're looking at gusts of around a0 to 50 miles per hour and much cooler — highs of around 12 celsius.

that's it from me. in the meantime, you can keep up to date on the bbc news app. i'll be back in half an hour. hello, this is breakfast with me, sally nugent. and this morning, jon is live in fenny compton, the village where sub—postmasters, led by alan bates, first launched their fightback. it launched their fightback. is a really important placl the it is a really important place. on the day today that the post office inquiry resumes in london. good morning. it inquiry resumes in london. good morninu. , ., inquiry resumes in london. good mornin.. , ., , . , morning. it is a place which feels really familiar. _ morning. it is a place which feels really familiar. even _ morning. it is a place which feels really familiar. even though - morning. it is a place which feels| really familiar. even though most morning. it is a place which feels i really familiar. even though most of us would struggle to put it on a map. this place is in warwickshire,

not farfrom the map. this place is in warwickshire, not far from the border with oxfordshire. this village was chosen by alan bates, just because it was kind of convenient for all of the sub—postmasters around the country. it was quite central in england and he wanted to attract sub—postmasters from all over britain to come here and share experiences. he suspected there was a big problem with the horizon it system. he felt lots of them had that problem in common and he wanted to fight the campaign for justice. that is what he has been doing ever since, for 15 years. this week, the post office public inquiry resumes in london. we thought it the perfect time to stand back and maybe a we are in the scandal. we have some of the sub—postmasters, who came back to fenny compton, to fenny compton, to come back here and join us and talk about what it and talk about what it is like to be here. we have spoken to you on practised here before. what is it like to be

morning?— before. what is it like to be morninu? ., , ' morning? really different. everyone has a smiling _ morning? really different. everyone has a smiling face. _ morning? really different. everyone has a smiling face. you _ morning? really different. everyone has a smiling face. you are - morning? really different. everyone has a smiling face. you are catching| has a smiling face. you are catching u -. the has a smiling face. you are catching un- they have _ has a smiling face. you are catching un- they have all— has a smiling face. you are catching up. they have all become _ has a smiling face. you are catching up. they have all become close - up. they have all become close friends. up. they have all become close friends- a _ up. they have all become close friends. a common _ up. they have all become close l friends. a common denominator, unfortunatelx _ friends. a common denominator, unfortunately. very— friends. a common denominator, unfortunately. very special - friends. a common denominator, l unfortunately. very special friends. you have _ unfortunately. very special friends. you have been_ unfortunately. very special friends. you have been through _ unfortunately. very special friends. you have been through tough - unfortunately. very special friends. | you have been through tough times where what does the community bring you? i where what does the community bring ou? ., where what does the community bring ou? . ., , ., , ., where what does the community bring ou? . . , ., , ., , where what does the community bring ou? . . , . , . , ., you? i have had 24 years a bit now. eve one you? i have had 24 years a bit now. everyone knows _ you? i have had 24 years a bit now. everyone knows how _ you? i have had 24 years a bit now. everyone knows how you _ you? i have had 24 years a bit now. everyone knows how you feel. - you? i have had 24 years a bit now. everyone knows how you feel. you | you? i have had 24 years a bit now. i everyone knows how you feel. you try to explain _ everyone knows how you feel. you try to explain you — everyone knows how you feel. you try to explain. you try— everyone knows how you feel. you try to explain. you try not _ everyone knows how you feel. you try to explain. you try not to _ everyone knows how you feel. you try to explain. you try not to be - to explain. you try not to be surprised _ to explain. you try not to be surprised because _ to explain. you try not to be surprised because we - to explain. you try not to be surprised because we all - to explain. you try not to be l surprised because we all knew to explain. you try not to be - surprised because we all knew from the start_ surprised because we all knew from the start how — surprised because we all knew from the start how it _ surprised because we all knew from the start how it all— surprised because we all knew from the start how it all started. - surprised because we all knew from the start how it all started. it- surprised because we all knew from the start how it all started. it is- the start how it all started. it is only— the start how it all started. it is only us— the start how it all started. it is only us who _ the start how it all started. it is only us who can _ the start how it all started. it is only us who can really- the start how it all started. it is only us who can really share . the start how it all started. it is| only us who can really share the frustration — only us who can really share the frustration of— only us who can really share the frustration of waiting _ only us who can really share the frustration of waiting this - only us who can really share the frustration of waiting this long l only us who can really share the i frustration of waiting this long to be believed — frustration of waiting this long to be believed because _ frustration of waiting this long to be believed because that- frustration of waiting this long to be believed because that is- frustration of waiting this long to be believed because that is what| frustration of waiting this long to i be believed because that is what it feels like _ be believed because that is what it feels like for — be believed because that is what it feels like for all— be believed because that is what it feels like for all of _ be believed because that is what it feels like for all of us. _ be believed because that is what it feels like for all of us.—

feels like for all of us. indeed. thank you _ feels like for all of us. indeed. thank you all— feels like for all of us. indeed. thank you all for _ feels like for all of us. indeed. thank you all for coming. - feels like for all of us. indeed. | thank you all for coming. there feels like for all of us. indeed. - thank you all for coming. there will be 50, 60 sub—postmasters and their families with us. vijay parekh spent his 51st birthday in wormwood scrubs prison as an innocent man. it took more than a decade to clear his name — his daughter always at his side. thinking they were the only ones, it was while working as a newly—qualified lawyer that bhavisha by chance took a call that changed everything. and when i spoke to her, she literally repeated my dad's story back to me. the sums were different. she worked at a post office that she owned with her husband. her daughter was working there part—time also. and everything that happened to my dad had happened to her. initially, i did also think, "is this someone trying to play a prank?" because it was just so uncanny. and i said to her, "actually, i know someone else who's had a very similar problem, do you mind if i pass them your number and they give you a call?" and then i called her back a few days later — just to see what she had spoken

to the solicitor about, and if they were able to help. and i was very honest with her. i said, "actually, i called you because we're having the same problem. my dad's had the same problem as you. and how are you coping and what's happened?" and she said, "actually, bhavisha, i found justice for subpostmasters," the alan bates site grouop. she was referred through someone else and they have meetings. and it's not only happened to us, it's happened to so many people. you have to come. what was it like going to that very first meeting? there were tomtoms. so we had a tomtom that routed us there. before we had sat nav on our phones. exactly. and as we walked in, it announced, "you are now at your destination," and everyone looked at us. well, technically we were. some people had been there before as well. they bought little bits of food — sandwiches, cakes, biscuits. everyone was sharing where they were at...

which stage they were at in their case, i think then it hit my dad and me. it felt as though all the blood was being drained from our body. i think we just both went cold because everyone's story was the same, and the same thing happened to them. they had been audited, the auditors had come in, they were quite bullish and they all told them all that it's only you that this happened to — no—one else had a loss like this. no—one else has had an issue with the horizon system, only you. but hearing that from about 20, 30 other people at the time gave us hope that actually we're not alone. they were so ni... everyone was so good. in west yorkshire, maria lockwood is surrounded by family, propped up by her father—in—law and two sisters, who've been with her through it all. we had to stick by her. we had to keep kicking her other leg to keep her going. and i don't think, if they hadn't have had that massive support, they would... maria would have come out the other end because it affected her really badly. terribly. forced out of her post office and made to pay thousands of pounds, maria, her husband and three young children's lives were turned upside down.

ijust see it as a dark time — a very dark time. you know, maria couldn't even get out of bed. but then came word of a meeting of subpostmasters happening nearby. no, go for it. you've nothing to lose. and that's how you got in touch with them guys, wern't it? yeah. one of them was in huddersfield — one of the villages. and that's where i first met alan. and i think there were about 40, 45 of us and i was just sat there and didn't want to speak to anybody and got speaking to this gentleman next to me and i kept staring at him. and he were like... he were telling my story. but i'd never met this gentleman before. and then other people were speaking, and ijust sat there thinking, "this is really this is very strange because all these people know what i've gone through."

but i don't know these people and i'd never seen them before. and i remember going up to alan at the end and ijust said, "so i haven't been going crazy," because that's... i really thought... i really thought i was going crazy. i think looking at it now in wisdom as a tool to keep everybody quiet, because if you divide, you conquer. if these people get together, like they did with alan, itjust shows what can be done. and it's nice. it's a nice community involved. and that rings true for so many of the families involved. it's amazing the way they have come together and the positivity and hope that they've grown. it's like a big extended family now. it's words of support, or it's new articles that have come out or new things that are happening. or sometimes it'sjokes that they send that they found funny and it keeps you going. you give each other direction. ok, i've done it this way. this is helpful. it is a great community to have. and without. .. again, without them, this would be so much more difficult. i don't think we would have come this far at all.

when people come together, they said in that piece. people are coming together right now. good morning. somebody nearly fell as a cut off the bus. this is fenny compton, the village hall when the meetings with the sub—postmasters began. this morning up to 60 sub—postmasters. please, welcome. they are returning here some of them for the first time since the first meeting. some have never spoken publicly before about their experiences. good morning. lovely to see you. that is sharon and kevin from sunderland. we will hear from them and kevin from sunderland. we will hearfrom them in a moment. i spent the day with them. people have come hundreds of miles. you haven't come quite as far. hundreds of miles. you haven't come quite as far-— quite as far. from leicestershire. wh is it quite as far. from leicestershire. why is it so _ quite as far. from leicestershire. why is it so important _ quite as far. from leicestershire. why is it so important to - quite as far. from leicestershire. why is it so important to be - quite as far. from leicestershire. why is it so important to be here | why is it so important to be here today? why is it so important to be here toda ? ., ., ., , .,

today? good to get all of us to get back together _ today? good to get all of us to get back together can _ today? good to get all of us to get back together can emphasise - today? good to get all of us to get back together can emphasise the i back together can emphasise the point that we did not stand on our own, as they told us false o'loan. we are a group and we need to be respected and treated accordingly. that group is growing behind you as you are speaking. what does it feel to have their support on a morning like this? . ., , . to have their support on a morning like this? . . , . like this? fantastic. the saying, from little _ like this? fantastic. the saying, from little acorns _ like this? fantastic. the saying, from little acorns mighty - like this? fantastic. the saying, from little acorns mighty oaks i like this? fantastic. the saying, - from little acorns mighty oaks grow. this is what happened, people got together, they told their stories and they are not the only people involved. not solitary sub—postmasters. there is a collective group of us who have been mistreated by the post office. it is a big week- _ mistreated by the post office. it is a big week. the _ mistreated by the post office. it is a big week. the public inquiry into the scandal resumes this week. alan bates is travelling to give his evidence. are you feeling like a mighty ape this morning, everybody? yes! —— mighty oak. haste

mighty ape this morning, everybody? yes! -- mighty oak-— yes! -- mighty oak. we will catch up with ou yes! -- mighty oak. we will catch up with you over— yes! -- mighty oak. we will catch up with you over the _ yes! -- mighty oak. we will catch up with you over the next _ yes! -- mighty oak. we will catch up with you over the next couple - yes! -- mighty oak. we will catch up with you over the next couple of- with you over the next couple of hours. sharon and kevin from sunderland, i spent a heartbreaking, emotional day with dan. they have never spoken before. we will hear from them later on in the programme. they explained why they hadn't even told their family about what they had been through, the losses of almost their home, their savings, their livelihood, theirjobs, everything. they thought they had security in their life in the future. everything was gone. this is part of the story. in the corner. where the lights are. yeah, that's me... that was my post office. what's it like to see it? awful, isn't it? it's awful, like. theyjust don't know what they've done to people, the post office. what's it done to you?

sum it up for... broke us. ijust locked myself in the house, just didn't go out shopping, didn't go out. didn't see me friends, didn't do anything. i just didn't want to be here. just didn't want to be here at all. and that's when i nearly did something stupid. till i seen the bairns' photographs in here, 2 o'clock in the morning, and i knew i couldn't leave them, so it was awful. and i'm so glad i walked in here now. so glad i walked in here. otherwise i wouldn't be sitting here. if you hadn't seen those pictures... if i hadn't seen the pictures of the bairns, i wouldn't be sitting with you now. and ijust looked at them and i thought, "ee god, i can't leave them bairns." no. your mum passed away before you heard... yeah. ..that you weren't going to be prosecuted. yeah.

this is what it does to you. that was the hardest time. the hardest time. sharon and kevin are with me now. nice to see you smile. good to be here. what does this feel like?— this feel like? brilliant. the su- ort this feel like? brilliant. the support for— this feel like? brilliant. the support for all— this feel like? brilliant. the support for all of _ this feel like? brilliant. the support for all of us - this feel like? brilliant. the support for all of us in - this feel like? brilliant. the - support for all of us in everything. everybody turned out, more than i thought would be here. i everybody turned out, more than i thought would be here.— thought would be here. i said a moment ago — thought would be here. i said a moment ago that _ thought would be here. i said a moment ago that you - thought would be here. i said a moment ago that you have - thought would be here. i said a i moment ago that you have never thought would be here. i said a - moment ago that you have never told some of your own family and friends what you had been through before today, before this piece runs on bbc breakfast. why is this moment right for you to go public? i breakfast. why is this moment right for you to go public?— for you to go public? i needed to. i needed to free _ for you to go public? i needed to. i needed to free myself _ for you to go public? i needed to. i needed to free myself of _ for you to go public? i needed to. i needed to free myself of all - for you to go public? i needed to. i needed to free myself of all of - for you to go public? i needed to. i needed to free myself of all of the | needed to free myself of all of the ties and sorrows. just feel free

again, myself. it has helped, definitely has helped. you are feelin: definitely has helped. you are feeling more _ definitely has helped. you are feeling more free? _ definitely has helped. you are feeling more free? definitely. definitely has helped. you are - feeling more free? definitely. we will talk again _ feeling more free? definitely. we will talk again later. _ feeling more free? definitely. we will talk again later. we _ feeling more free? definitely. we will talk again later. we will- feeling more free? definitely. we| will talk again later. we will speak to as many of you as we can later. fantastic to have you all here in fenny compton. spot the man from sunderland! are you not cold at will? ., sunderland! are you not cold at will? irlo. fenny compton is looking will? no. fenny compton is looking beautiful. a gorgeous day and a lovely village, a lovely place. picked for convenience by alan bates,itis picked for convenience by alan bates, it is certainly picturesque as well for a bbc breakfast at broadcast this morning. we will be back later on in the programme. thank you so much. much more from them throughout the morning as they gather together to talk about what they have all been through and what

might happen next. the state pension is rising from today. nina's here with all the details. good morning. a nice spring bump to your pension. what is now not to like? from today, the amount of money you receive for your state pension is going up. payments are rising by 8.5% as part of the triple lock promise, that is the government pledge for pensions to keep pace with inflation, wage rises, or 2.5%, whichever�*s highest. this time round it's wages. so how much will you feel that? well, last year people on the old basic state pension — that's anyone who retired before april 2016 — received around £8,120 a year. those who retired after that point, came under the new state pension of £10,600. with today's increase,

people on the basic state pension will get almost £700 more, with the newer state pension rising byjust over £900 a year. it feels like good news if you're drawing a pension, but keep an eye on the personal tax allowance — it has been frozen at £12,570 since 2021. that's the amount you can earn before you have to start paying income tax. of the 12.7 million people receiving the state pension last year, more than 8 million paid income tax. usually because they supplement their state pension with things like a part—time job or a private pension. but research from the house of commons library says an additional 1.2 million people will end up paying income tax on their pensions this year. and losing out to tax is causing upset for some pensioners. trevor is 69, and increases to his state pension this year means

he has to start paying income tax — on money he says her�*s worked hard for. it should not apply to pensioners. they have worked all my life my page all their lives. when the time comes, they want to taxi. i have been fairly strict on myself by watching every penny that goes out. i am not a screech, i spend on family and friends and stuff. nothing extra for holidays or whatever you might want to do. i finish of shopping in charity shops rather than regular high street shops. the government points out that pensioners do not need to pay any tax if their only income is from the full state pension, and they're standing by the commitment to maintain the triple lock. but we know that as things stand

the personal tax allowance is going to stay frozen for another four years so any increases will likely push even more people into paying income tax, and increase the amount you're losing to tax if you're already in that bracket. maybe you have done the maths at home. maybe you have the spreadsheet out and you know the extent to which this increase will affect you. it will go up as pensions go up before the review in four years. it be great to hear from you and all the usual ways. great to hear from you and all the usualways. do great to hear from you and all the usual ways. do not forget, some people will point to the fact that national insurance is being cut. the fiscal drag, dragged into the next tax category is happening. thank you. to get in touch with whatever your personal situation is. we would love to hear your story. at

this point in the football season we always say it is close, it is getting tight. after yesterday's football, it is ridiculous. liverpool will be so frustrated they miss this opportunity. the first half could have been 4—0. it ended up half could have been 4—0. it ended up as a 2—2 draw. that felt like a relief. as a result, they miss the chance to return to the top of the table. the games are becoming fewer and fewer. with seven remaining committees any one's guess who will win it. livable missing out on a chance return to the top. it is so tight. yes, just one point now separating arsenal, liverpool in second, and manchester city in third with seven games to go. but having gifted united a goal yesterday, jurgen klopp's hopes of winning the league in his final season were dealt a blow after liverpool's 2—2 draw at old trafford, as ben croucher reports. an afternoon in the life ofjurgen klopp.

never a dull moment. for his last visit to old trafford as liverpool boss gave him highs, lows, everything in between. so was it fun to be part of a game like that? as for the neutral, maybe. it's not too nice or too beautiful when you are involved. and i thought we did in a lot of moments really, really well — again. so that was good. creating is good. finishing off is not as good. so we are where we are and we will keep giving it a proper go. that's all. they showed it in the first half against manchester united. but luis diaz's opener was all they had to show from 15 shots. united didn't even manage one. but, in this funny old game, absolutely anything can happen from absolutely anywhere. it's a magnificent finish. a united comeback seemed far fetched. it needed something special. oh, wow. it got it. kobbie mainoo, denting liverpool's title, hopes only for aaron

wan—bissaka's lunge to give them a boost. and when liverpool needed a lifeline, mo salah duly delivered it. a point gained or two dropped — we'll let you decide. from another crazy afternoon in manchester, it was a game that gave us all the feels. ben croucher, bbc news. equally crazy in scotland as well. staying in england though... tottenham are up to fourth, ahead of aston villa, after beating nottingham forest. some great goals, one from defender micky van der ven in a 3—1win. and that boosts their hopes of champions league football next season, with only goal difference is now keeping forest out of the premier league relegation places. sheffield united salvaged a draw at home to chelsea, oli mcburnie with the goal. they remain rooted to the bottom of the table, nine points from safety. the title race in england's heading towards a nailbiting finish — the same can be said for the scottish premiership. sunday's six goal thriller at ibrox means rangers are nowjust a point behind leaders celtic.

this one lived up to the hype. celtic — with no away fans — took the lead, virtually straight from kick off. but after going 2—up rangers then drew level. it had looked like adam idah's finish six minutes from time was going to put celtic four points clear at the top, but look at this a stunning stoppage—time equaliser from rabbi matondo made it 3—3, leaving rangers still in the title race. sad news, the former newcastle and wimbledon managerjoe kinnear has died at the age of 77. a statement from his family said: "we are sad to announce that joe passed away peacefully surrounded by his family." as a player with tottenham, kinnear won the fa cup, two league cups and the uefa cup, before going on to enjoy a managerial career in charge of wimbledon in the 90's; and was appointed newcastle manager in 2008. he was diagnosed

with dementia in 2015. we've seen some fierce competition in the pool with olympic qualification on the line at the british championships and last night was no different. this was a race billed as the most competitive domestic swimming race in history, the outcome of which means olympic champion tom dean will not get to defend his olympic 200m freestyle title in paris. matt richards won this one and that means he qualifies for the event in paris alongside duncan scott who finished second. dean finished third and won't get the chance to defend the title he won in tokyo last time out. he had said he was hoping to win five medals in paris, but will only contest one individual event. i have been top three in the world. esn around. shows the calibre of the competition. always happy to stand on the podium with these boys. i

know we will go to paris and these boys will get the job done in france. that is the main thing. and, yeah, relays, relays, relays. anna hopkin qualified for paris in the 100m freestyle to complete the british sprint double by following up her win in the 50m event. hopkin will be hoping to add to the the mixed medley relay gold she won at the tokyo games. just goes to show how tight it is at the minute with the 200 metre event being so fiercely contested. as the weeks go by. tom dean missing out on a chance to defend his title in paris. that is the strength of the british team at the moment. her talent was indisputable. now, the life and music of amy winehouse is the subject of a new film, back to black. it follows her journey to becoming a star, as well as her later struggles with addiction. our culture correspondent, charlotte gallagher, sat down with the director, sam taylor—johnson, and marisa abela,

who stars in the film. # tried to make me go to rehab, isaid no, no, no.# amy winehouse, a music legend. # no, no... # yeah, baby, and the rest. # tried to make me go to rehab. # i said, no, no, no.# now, a new film is telling her story. i was so excited by the idea of, you know, playing and getting in touch with amy — the girl, and then amy the singer — as well as, like, you know, the woman before the icon. and you, physically, transform in the film. you start as this really vibrant young woman and you become quite frail towards the end of the film and just seem so lonely and kind of cut off and let down by people. how did you feel about amy when you were making this film? i felt very in awe of her. when she first came on the scene, we were all sort of blown away

by this, like, girl from camden that, like, had a lot to say and wasn't afraid to say it. it's difficult to go through the highs and lows of someone's life. and i think it's just about dealing with those moments with as much sensitivity as a person as possible and figuring out exactly what's happening. i don't write songs to be famous. i write songs because i don't know what i'd do if i didn't. and for you, sam, how hard was it to find your amy — someone that can physically resemble amy, but then can also sing like her? well, really, it was important, mostly, that i could find someone that wasn't going to impersonate amy. there were many brilliant impersonators and people that looked like her or sounded like her. but marisa came in as herself — was the only one in the audition process, who didn't try to look like her in any way. earrings, eyeliner or anything like. # feel like a lady...#

amy's grandma and her mum and dad are depicted in the film, but the family weren't involved in making it. i went to the family, you know, really out of respect that i was making a film about their daughter. and ijust wanted to sort of sit with them and hear their stories and then go off and make the film that i wanted to make. so they didn't have involvement, as in they could say what i could and couldn't do, but i wanted them to be able to come and visit set and see what we were doing and just have, again, like i said, a sense of respect that i was making a film about their daughter. a big part of the film is amy's troubled relationship with blake fielder—civil. i didn't meet blake. i wanted to meet blake, but i didn't meet blake. i set out to make the film, like i said, through her perspective. so her love of him, you know, had to be palpable. it had to feel real and we had to understand why she fell in love with him. and so it wasn't about making a sort of one—dimensional villain.

we had to fall in love with him to understand why she wrote one of the greatest albums about their love. and... and, for me, really, the villains of the film, you know, it's addiction and paparazzi. and when you actually look back now at the headlines that were written about her, i mean, i was reading one that said, "amy goes to see blake in court, but she can't hide the state of her shocking skin." and it's a picture of someone obviously very unwell. hm, yes. do you think now, obviously, what amy went through, what britney spears went through, that maybe we've moved on a bit as a society that people wouldn't be persecuted essentially like that? i don't know. recent news may say different. i felt like we maybe had evolved to this place of maybe that wouldn't happen now, but it feels like it is happening now. # we only said goodbye with words. # i died a hundred times.# what do you think she'd make of the film?

i think that she would feel, like, the fact that we've sort of gifted her music back again in a different light, having seen the film, and people sort of feeling like they want to go and listen to it immediately afterwards and, you know, be more remembered for her music than for her tragedy. i feel like hopefully she would feel proud of it and us. and of herself, too, you know, as a catalogue of her achievements and what it was that she was able to create as a very young woman. i hope that she would watch it and feel, like, you know, proud of everything that she created. # and i go back to black.# charlotte gallagher, bbc news. back to black is out in cinemas this friday. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are.

hello, good morning from bbc london, i'm leigh milner. a further £3 million of government funding has been announced today for hammersmith bridge. the money will be used to resurface a temporary cycle lane on the bridge and make it permanent. it's now been closed to cars for five years this week, whilst the wait for strengthening work continues. more rail disruption is expected across the capital today, as a result of strike action. members of the aslef union are walking out in a row over pay and conditions. today, strikes are affecting greateranglia, c2c, great northern, thameslink and south western railway. services to stansted, luton and gatwick airports will also be affected. a murder investigation has been launched after a fatal stabbing yesterday near tottenham stadium. a man was found seriously injured on northumberland parkjust before 6am, but died at the scene.

yesterday's match between tottenham hotspur and nottingham forest went ahead as planned, with some road closures in place. fire crews called to a recent e—bike fire at a railway station in sutton have described the blaze as "ferocious" and said it could have had "tragic consequences". the london fire brigade have said e—bikes and e—scooters remain the capital's fastest—growing fire risk, with 155 e—bike fires and 28 e—scooter fires recorded last year. a renowned disabilities choir based in southend has a very special performance at the royal albert hall tonight. members of the music man project will bejoined onstage by singing star michael ball and the band of his majesty's royal marines. the choir is for children and adults with learning disabilities. let's take a look at the tubes now. and on the northern line, there's no service between

golders green and edgware due to planned engineering works. let's get the weather with katerina. hello there. good morning to you. the best of our weather today will most certainly be through this morning. we're starting off dry and bright, but this afternoon it will turn increasingly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain. and some of that rain could fall on the heavy side. so sunny spells through this morning, but there is quite a bit of mid to high—level cloud around, so that sunshine may appear quite hazy at times, but through the afternoon it will turn cloudy for all areas with showery outbreaks of rain. you can see the green in this rain indicates the heavier bursts, and we may hear a few rumbles of thunder. we're looking at highs today of around 18 celsius and overall our winds much lighter compared with the weekend. so, through this evening, that showery rain will clear. we'll start off with clear spells. but, through the night, cloud amounts will increase with further showers and those winds will pick up. our temperatures will fall away to around 8 to 9 celsius and then, on tuesday, will turn increasingly windy through the day. for us, we're looking at gusts

of around 40 to 50 miles per hour and much cooler — highs of around 12 celsius. that's it from me. in the meantime, you can keep up to date on the bbc news app — i'll be back in half an hour. good morning, welcome to bbc breakfast. the subpostmasters fighting forjustice. this morning they have returned here to the village hall where their campaign for trees began 15 years ago. —— campaign for truth. fenny compton. fenny? compton. just the place to start i really annoying the hell out of the post office.

it's a huge week for the post office inquiry as it resumes in london. we'll bejoined live in fenny compton by the post office minister, for this special edition of bbc breakfast. in other news... a manhunt continues for the person suspected of fatally stabbing a woman in bradford, while she was pushing a baby in a pram. cheering cheers ofjoy — after running from one end of africa to the other, the hardest geezer has finally completed his year—long epic marathon. witnessing history — millions of people in north america are preparing to experience a total solar eclipse. in sport, a mistake from liverpool in the most exciting title race in years — gifting rivals manchester united a goal in their draw at old trafford. but should it have been a win? good morning. the weather this week will be fairly changeable. cooley to

start the week for many, also wet and windy with some sunshine and thenit and windy with some sunshine and then it warms up for some as we head towards the end of the week. i will have all the details later in the programme. good morning, it's monday the 8th april, and welcome to the village hall where the mass campaign forjustice in the post office scandal began 15 years ago. we are in fenny compton in warwickshire. it is a picturesque village right in the middle of england and was picked by alan bates because it was a central location for a sub—postmasters from across the country to come and start their campaign forjustice 15 years ago. he brought them together and said, look, i think there is a big problem with the horizon it computer system. at the time very few other people outside this community were listening. but they started talking,

they started campaigning, and now they started campaigning, and now the world is listening. last night that itv drama series started showing in america, extending its reach to a global, global audience. this morning we have brought together more than 50 people who know this story inside out, whose lives have been changed forever by the post office scandal. some of them have never spoken about their stories before, even to their nearest and dearest. some have travelled hundreds of miles today to be here. we really appreciate you all coming and we are looking forward to hearing from as many of you as we possibly can. they will get a chance to question the post office minister kevin hollinrake on the soviet later as the post office scandal public inquiry resumes in london this week. —— on the sofa later. our business correspondent

emma simpson can bring us up—to—date on the story so far. fenny compton. fenny? compton. just the place to start i really annoying the hell out of the post office. she chuckles. the moment in the itv drama where former subpostmaster alan bates picks the spot for the fightback. alan! jo hamilton is there to meet him. they'd no idea how many would come for the first meeting — but come, they did. hello, jo! hello! the realjo hamilton remembers it well. it galvanised me, certainly — made me so angry when we all told exactly the same stories, and you realised we'd all been shafted. in the beginning, we were just a little circle in the middle. but it ended up — the word spread, and more and more postmasters came. and, er, yeah, we... look where we are. it's been a long road, though. that first campaign meeting in fenny compton was in 2009. eight years later, alan bates took legal action against the post office, and his group eventually won.

in 2021, the court of appeal quashed the convictions of 39 subpostmasters in a landmark ruling. the year after, the public inquiry began hearing evidence — starting with the victims. the next phase starts in this room tomorrow. the inquiry has slowly been trying to join the dots, and it's now focusing on who knew what at the top. centre stage will be former post office boss paula vennells. here she is in parliament defending the horizon it system. if there had been any miscarriages ofjustice, it would have been really important to me and the post office that we actually surface those. and, as the investigations have gone through so far, we've had no evidence of that. of course, there'll be dozens of other witnesses — from board members and barristers, to key politicians and government officials. first up, though, in the witness chair will be alan bates.

people have got to be held accountable. i see no sign of it yet, er... but i think, after the inquiry, then i think that's definitely the next stage. and then we start looking at prosecutions. notjust that, as well — i mean, huge bonuses have been paid to people over the years. some of that should be clawed back. all eyes are now on what this inquiry is about to uncover. we've done the groundwork. we've find out the system was broken and that people knew the system was broken. so now we're going to find out what the leaders of the post office did with that information. we are deeply concerned that there is growing evidence that there was a cover—up. victims will be watching. they want accountability, too — as well as full and fair compensation. emma simpson, bbc news. alan bates is on his way to london to give evidence but some of the

many sub—postmasters he has assembled over the years are here with us this morning and will be sharing their stories. you will also put your questions to kevin hollinrake, do you have those questions ready?— hollinrake, do you have those questions ready? yes! i thought you miaht questions ready? yes! i thought you mi . ht sa questions ready? jazz! i thought you might say that. that questions ready? iesi i thought you might say that. that will be in about one hour. we will also hear from the very personal stories because we wanted to reflect on the ongoing impact of that. although the timeline in that previous piece show there have been some signs of progress, some small victories, i think everyone in this room says the fight goes on and this is far from over. the public inquiry is far from over. the public inquiry is far from over. we will get a sense of that ongoing human impact. we are also, i think, going to celebrate... it feels like a strange way to use but celebrate the bonds and friendships found here. you got together, these two get together every so often. they have become friends through this and sometimes enjoyed one

another�*s company, just try to forget about the post office scandal, right? can't promise we will forget about it this morning but it is nice to have you all here and smiling. we will be back with the latest from fenny compton a little later in the programme. sally has the rest of the day's news. look forward to it, john. asjon said, more from fenny compton later. a manhunt is underway after a mother was stabbed to death while pushing her baby in a pram in bradford. police are searching for 25—year—old habibur masum after the attack on saturday afternoon. our north of england reporter, rowan bridge, is there now. good morning. what more can you tell us about this attack? yes. good morning. what more can you tell us about this attack?— us about this attack? yes, well, the scene here — us about this attack? yes, well, the scene here is— us about this attack? yes, well, the scene here is very _ us about this attack? yes, well, the scene here is very different - us about this attack? yes, well, the scene here is very different this - scene here is very different this morning from what happened tragically over the weekend. the police cordon which was in place behind me much of the weekend has now been lifted and we have seen people walking through the area on

their way to work this morning. it was at about 3:20pm on saturday on a 27—year—old woman was walking through this area with a baby in a pram when she was attacked and repeatedly stabbed by a man who then ran off. she died later in hospital from her injuries. police have named the man they want to speak to in relation to the killing as habibur masum, 25 years old and from oldham in greater manchester. west yorkshire police say he has connections to various towns and cities across the north west of england and they are liaising with several other police forces as part of this manhunt to try to find him. police say they later recovered and knife but don't know if habibur masum is still armed and they have warned people not to approach him but to ring 999 if they come into contact with him. they have also confirmed that habibur masum was known to the woman who was attacked but have not gone into detail as to the nature of that relationship.

they have asked for anyone with information about what happened to contact them. we are standing by what is a main road here and they are particularly interested to hear from anyone who may have dash cam footage relevant to the investigation. they have also said there will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days to provide reassurance and as part of that investigation.— part of that investigation. thank ou. rail passengers are being warned to expect disruption on the final day of the latest rolling strikes by train drivers. members of the aslef union are walking out at 14 rail companies, with many commuter routes in east anglia and the south of england affected. air safety investigators in the us are trying to find out why the casing of a boeing plane's engine ripped off during a passenger flight from denver. online video shows the protective cover flapping against the wing of the aircraft as it returned to the airport. no injuries have been reported.

the head of the un's atomic watchdog has condemned a drone attack on a russian—occupied nuclear power plant in southern ukraine. rafael grossi said the zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, which is the largest in europe, was hit three times on sunday. he warned it raised the risk of a "major nuclear accident". israel's military said on sunday that it was reducing its numbers of soldiers from southern gaza, leaving just one brigade in the area. the military stressed a "significant force" would remain in gaza. our international editor, jeremy bowen, is injerusalem. morning. tell us, what does this reduction in troops actually mean, what does it tell us about the state of the conflict and where it is now? i think it tells us that israel is a bit stuck. it is under pressure from the americans not to do what the israelis have wanted to do, which is

pushed south into the town of rafah. israel says it wants to go there because there are a must battalions get to destroy in that area but there are also about a million palestinian civilians and since the —— they are saying do not do this. israel is at a bit of an impasse in that so they have pulled the 98th brigade out saying they need to rest, refit and retrain. they have still, in the northern part of gaza, and they have divided the north from the south with a new road they have built, a sort of buffet zone, they have a brigade which is roughly half the division, probably about 4000 soldiers, something like that. but they also have the air force, drones, and gaza itself is small. surface area about the size of the

isle of wight so it is easy for them to get in and out if they need to. we know that ceasefire negotiations are continuing between hamas and israel, continuing in egypt. do you know how they are progressing? different things are coming out. there were various leaks coming out last night saying they were making progress. other stuff coming from hamas say they are not making progress. although reports say the americans are really pushing on this but i think they have clearly limited influence over hamas. in the end i think it is probably a numbers game. it is a question of how far israel is prepared to go towards the demands of hamas which are essentially for a large exchange of prisoners for hostages. plus israel pulling out of the gaza strip and staying out and having a permanent

ceasefire. so one theory knocking around in the israeli press this morning is that the reason they have pulled that the 98th division out of the south of gaza was to go a little bit towards that hamas position, which would then feed into the negotiations in cairo which are being led by the head of the cia, the head of egyptian intelligence, and the prime minister of qatar so very high—powered. they will feed that troop withdrawal in and hope that troop withdrawal in and hope that that might help. but, you know, i think there have been quite a lot of negotiations now over the last six months and there have been lots of leaks, lots of false dawns. you rememberjoe biden eating an ice cream a month or so ago, he was filmed saying he thought there would be a deal by the beginning of the following week. well, it didn't happen. so be very cautious about any rumours coming out of it. wait for concrete agreements and concrete things happening on the ground.

jeremy, thank you so much. good to talk to you. jeremy bowen reporting from jerusalem. russ cook, the man nicknamed the hardest geezer, has finally crossed the finish line after running the entire length of africa for charity. he set off last april in south africa and has covered the equivalent distance of 385 marathons. he headed north through countries including angola, nigeria and ivory coast before crossing the finishing line in tunisia. ellie price has the story. only the hardest geezer could do it. cheering. russell cook has just run nearly every day for 352 days, covering more than 10,000 miles. let's go! day three. day four. day six. the heavens have opened. he's run through deserts, rainforests, savannahs, mountains and 16 countries. and so far he's raised more than £700,000 for the running charity and sandblast.

bit windy. soon enough, we'll all be in tunisia, sipping strawberry daiquiris on the beach. oh—ho—ho! he's had complications with his health, visas, the weather... he sneezes. highs of 39 degrees out here today. twisted me up! ..and other man—made threats. they said we should go more to the main track. we're going to get blown up over here. really? yes. but he's taken it all in his stride. i'm too damn ferocious, boys and girls! in this final stretch, the 27—year—old had a little help from his friends — a few more running mates than he's used to. he's achieved something no—one else in this world has ever managed. and that strawberry daiquiri! ellie price, bbc news. well deserved, i would think!

carol has the weather. good morning. this morning, a fine start to the day at the moment anyway in east lothian. you can see we have some blue skies around but we also have cloud and rain not too far away. brighter skies today likely across the north of scotland, at the moment showers and strong winds associated with what is left of storm kathleen but they will move away through the day. the northern ireland, brighter skies to start with across south—west england and wales and pushing across northern england into parts of northern ireland and southern scotland. and then the next batch comes in. later in the day, this line of showers pushing steadily eastwards, some are likely to be heavy and thundery. the wind is picking up across the coast of devon and cornwall and also the channel islands. temperatures today nine in lerwick to 17 or 18 as we push down towards london. through

this evening and overnight, we still have all this rain, some of it will be heavy and persistent. if you hope to see the partial solar eclipse in the uk, well, the chances are you probably won't because they will be a lot of cloud and rain around. best chanceis a lot of cloud and rain around. best chance is probably the western isles, maybe the west of northern ireland, as well, this evening. tomorrow morning, temperatures start off before in lerwick to nine in south—east and gales across the south—west —— four in lerwick. the rain gradually edges to the east, brightening up behind it with a few showers. still windy wherever you are it with gales on the coast of wales and parts of the english channel coast line, as well. it will feel that bit cooler than today, as well. thank you. we will see ou today, as well. thank you. we will see you again _ today, as well. thank you. we will see you again soon. _ here on breakfast on saturday, we spoke about a new law which means people who provide unpaid care to relatives or friends are now entitled to five days of unpaid leave. but some of our viewers messaged in to let us know that they don't

feel the new law goes far enough. sue said... more of you messaged in about another issue — that it is not possible to claim the full amount of carer�*s allowance and your state pension at the same time. there were also messages about concerns around working regularjobs as well as being an unpaid carer — with one viewer saying...

it is notjust unpaid carers that are struggling with pay, but professional carers, too. one support group in nottinghamshire is raising awareness that many care workers don't earn the legal minimum wage because of unpaid travel time. our social affairs correspondent, jeremy ball, has more. david's been bedbound with parkinson's for the last four years. tracey and nicola are his lifeline. david lives alone here at his flat in west bridgford. without their support, he'd need to move to a care home. it's total difference because i couldn't manage here without them — i couldn't because i can't get up on my legs and walk into my kitchen and cook a meal — which you did used to do. david gets four of these half—hour visits every day. but now nicola and tracey and several other carers are supporting each other, too, to deal with everything from coping with medical emergencies to every domiciliary carer's bugbear.

travel. you reach the stage where there's nothing you can do about it. i had five minutes to get to the call, it took me over 15 minutes. trying to get to someone knowing that they need you, trying to get to someone i knowing that they need you, it's really difficult. nottingham is getting very bad for traffic, i getting very bad for roadworks. i think people see carers as making a cup of tea and having a chat, and it's so far from that. we give medication, we check skin integrity, we ensure that the client is well and healthy — and if they're not, we act on that. so now they've all signed up to the new home care workers' group, along with online members from as far afield as devon and wales. you know, you leave a note to say, |"put the laundry on, take it out."| it's been set up by rachel kelso, who hopes it'll also help them challenge exploitation within the industry. 10% to 13% of domiciliary care workers — that's home care workers — are not paid for their travel time

and to the effect of being illegally paid under the national minimum wage. it's a huge problem. it is exploitation. government's talking about opening up career pathways for care workers — lovely — but let's look at unpaid travel time, let's look at that basic hourly rate and let's look at insecure contracts. it's all documented, all in here. but the home care workers' group is backed by rachel's boss. but the homecare workers' group is backed by rachel's boss. she hopes it can protect responsible care firms from competitors that cut corners. we need to support our carers, to give them a fighting chance to do a really good job. and we want the home care workers to feel supported, treated like any other health—care professional. and there's so, so many bad stories, but the good stories are that people live at home. what would you like on? people like david — who rely on these visits for so much more than their meals and personal care. it's about their independence, and living life to the full. jeremy ball, bbc news.

a spokesperson for the department of health told us carers are covered by recent rises in the national living wage and said the government is taking a number of steps to give the caring profession the recognition it rightly deserves. photography is often seen only as a visual medium — but a new exhibition in london is using techniques which mean its pictures can be enjoyed by blind and partially sighted visitors. called world unseen, it uses braille and audio descriptions on its artwork and shows how the world is seen by the visually impaired. leyla hayes reports. this is how most of us would see this striking photo. but this is how it could appear to someone with a visual impairment. this exhibition in somerset house means that those with sight loss can experience photography in a whole new way. just the little detail in the ears, you know, it'sjust... it's amazing.

the images have been printed in 3d, so they can also be touched. it's only raised a maximum of two millimetres off the surface, but yet i can feel the skin of the rhinoceros, i can feel the wound where they cut off the horn. i can feel its mouth and it's eating the grass. all this detail, it's just like, wow. each photo in the exhibition is also accompanied by a full description in braille for those who can't see. campaigners say it's about making art accessible to all. we want experiences that we can all share and we can all benefit from, and that's what inclusion is about — offering everyone a kind of equitable experience, notjust, "let's put on something for blind people." actually, what we really want is, let's try and find a way to deliver exhibitions that mean everybody can get something out of it. the new technology has enabled visually impaired mum karen to see a scan of her baby ruby for the first time. it was amazing, like,

to have the experience that every other mum that has their scan in the uk is getting to see their baby scan — i got to see mine. i could feel her nose, her eyes, what she was going to look like. and when i first had her, the first thing i did was feel her nose and was, like, "yeah, her nose feels like the scan picture does!" one of the photos was taken by blind photographer ian treherne. yeah, it makes it much more inclusive cos a lot of blind people don't really feel like they can get involved, you know, going to exhibitions — so this is, yeah, this is amazing. whether you're blind, visually impaired or fully sighted, this exhibition is bringing photography to all. that was leyla hayes reporting. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are.

hello, good morning from bbc london. i'm leigh milner. another day of strike action by train drivers will affect millions of passengers on some of london's busiest commuter lines today. aslef members working for greateranglia, c2c, great northern, thameslink, southern and south western railway are all taking action. services to stansted, luton and gatwick airports will also be affected. a further £3 million of government funding has been announced today for hammersmith bridge. the money will be used to resurface a temporary cycle lane on the bridge and make it permanent. it's now been closed to cars for five years this week, whilst the wait for strengthening work continues. a murder investigation has been launched after a fatal stabbing yesterday near tottenham stadium. a man was found seriously injured on northumberland parkjust before 6am, but died at the scene. yesterday's match between tottenham hotspur and nottingham forest went

ahead as planned with some road closures in place. a renowned disabilities choir based in southend has a very special performance at the royal albert hall tonight. members of the music man project will be joined onstage by singing star michael ball and the band of his majesty s royal marines. the elixir festival takes place at sadler�*s wells from wednesday — there'll be two weeks of performances, films talks and workshops. its aim is to change perceptions around dance and age, and encourage people from all age ranges to get involved, as we found out at one of the group's rehearsals. yes, there's preconceptions the physicality of the form means it's not something you necessarily do as you get older. for older performers to keep dancing, the first of all who we see on stage and what bodies are allowed be on stage. let's take a look at the tubes now. and on the northern line, there's no service between golders green and edgware due

to planned engineering works. there are also minor delays on the bakerloo and elizabeth line. let's get the weather with katerina. hello there. good morning to you. the best of our weather today will most certainly be through this morning. we're starting off dry and bright, but this afternoon it will turn increasingly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain. and some of that rain could fall on the heavy side. so sunny spells through this morning, but there is quite a bit of mid to high—level cloud around, so that sunshine may appear quite hazy at times, but through the afternoon it will turn cloudy for all areas with showery outbreaks of rain. you can see the green in this rain indicates the heavier bursts, and we may hear a few rumbles of thunder. we're looking at highs today of around 18 celsius and overall our winds much lighter compared with the weekend. so, through this evening, that showery rain will clear. we'll start off with clear spells. but, through the night, cloud amounts will increase with further showers and those winds will pick up. our temperatures will fall away

to around 8 to 9 celsius and then, on tuesday, will turn increasingly windy through the day. for us, we're looking at gusts of around 40 to 50 miles per hour and much cooler — highs of around 12 celsius. that's it from me — in the meantime, you can keep up to date on the bbc news app. i'll be back in half an hour. hello, this is breakfast with me sally nugent in the studio and jon kay, who's live in fenny compton — the village where sub—postmasters, led by alan bates, first launched their fightback. tomorrow, the post office inquiry resumes in london and jon is with more than 50 people affected by the scandal this morning, to hear more about their campaign forjustice. good morning to you from all of us, and to you at home. we were

wondering what she would call a group of sub—postmasters. someone suggested a parcel. not sure about that. someone else suggested a defiance, which seems about right. you have been utterly defined in the way collectively you have bought for justice over the last 15 years, ever since many of you first gathered in their school in fenny compton in warwickshire, brought together by alan bates. here they started talking about how to find out what had been going wrong with that computer system. where had the money gone? who knew what? when? they are still asking those questions today as the post office public inquiry resumes in london this week. we thought it was a good opportunity to return to fenny compton, bringing together some of those defiance of sub—postmasters and reflect on it really. we are going to hear from

the post office minister later, he will be answering some questions. here, we also have gizmo. he is your support dog. he here, we also have gizmo. he is your support dog-— support dog. he has my support dog for diabetes. — support dog. he has my support dog for diabetes, anxiety _ support dog. he has my support dog for diabetes, anxiety and _ for diabetes, anxiety and depression. for quite a while i blamed all of this on myself because in 2006, when i found a problem with horizon and the post office completely covered it up. there was a lot of guilt from that. your completely covered it up. there was a lot of guilt from that.— a lot of guilt from that. your post office was in _ a lot of guilt from that. your post office was in swansea, _ a lot of guilt from that. your post office was in swansea, wasn't - a lot of guilt from that. your post office was in swansea, wasn't it? | office was in swansea, wasn't it? yes. ~ ., office was in swansea, wasn't it? yes. . . . , office was in swansea, wasn't it? yes. . . office was in swansea, wasn't it? yes. . , office was in swansea, wasn't it? yes. . . , ., yes. what has the impact been on our yes. what has the impact been on your general— yes. what has the impact been on your general health? _ yes. what has the impact been on your general health? when - yes. what has the impact been on your general health? when i - yes. what has the impact been on i your general health? when i started to hear about _ your general health? when i started to hear about all _ your general health? when i started to hear about all the _ your general health? when i started to hear about all the problems, - to hear about all the problems,

people committing suicide, people going to prison, and pregnant and things like that. i started to feel quite guilty and felt i could have done something more. i became quite suicidal myself and depressed and isolated. , ., , isolated. gizmo has helped you through that. _ isolated. gizmo has helped you through that. yes, _ isolated. gizmo has helped you through that. yes, kept - isolated. gizmo has helped you through that. yes, kept me - isolated. gizmo has helped you i through that. yes, kept me calm. isolated. gizmo has helped you - through that. yes, kept me calm. we are delighted — through that. yes, kept me calm. we are delighted to _ through that. yes, kept me calm. we are delighted to have _ through that. yes, kept me calm. we are delighted to have you _ through that. yes, kept me calm. we are delighted to have you here. - are delighted to have you here. gizmo is keeping us all calm this morning. he is snuggled up next to you. when hughesjoins us in the studio. gwen was the writer of alan bates versus the post office. iiialie bates versus the post office. none of us expected _ bates versus the post office. none of us expected the _ bates versus the post office. none of us expected the drama _ bates versus the post office. none of us expected the drama to - bates versus the post office. iime of us expected the drama to take off then this way. we knew we had done

something good. everyone's stories are heartbreaking and marvellous and who could fail to make a great tv drama out of them? we did not expect chuka umunna it is difficult. it is computers and the law, difficult to get a grip. —— we did not expect... i kept asking the same questions because i could not understand it, i can understand what was going on. no surprise it took a drama to get it into the public consciousness, like it did. how wonderfully the british public took it on, the nerve we struck with the tv drama, an extraordinary experience. it started to be shown — extraordinary experience. it started to be shown in _ extraordinary experience. it started to be shown in the _ extraordinary experience. it started to be shown in the united - extraordinary experience. it started to be shown in the united states, i to be shown in the united states, last night. new zealand, canada. hundreds of millions potentially of people who have no experienced that

story. how proud of you are —— how proud are you of the wider team? enormously proud of having been able to help. we arejust enormously proud of having been able to help. we are just entertainers, show business. to be able to use my skills to help to be able to bring a story as appalling as there to wider attention and the attention of the government has been the highlight of my entire career. i am an old lady now. i have seen where you can get to with a television show. extraordinary.— to with a television show. extraordina . ., ., ., , extraordinary. many congratulations on our extraordinary. many congratulations on your success. _ extraordinary. many congratulations on your success. it _ extraordinary. many congratulations on your success. it has _ extraordinary. many congratulations on your success. it hasjust - extraordinary. many congratulations on your success. it hasjust been i on your success. it has just been announced by radio times the drama has been voted by the british public the most influential piece of television this year. a round of applause. applause

do you think this drama will change the importance of drama? the kind of drama is made on television in the uk? i drama is made on television in the uk? ., ., ~ ., , ., uk? i do not know. there may be a fee more important, _ uk? i do not know. there may be a fee more important, serious, - fee more important, serious, domestic stories made. this is a very unusual story, they are very unusual group of people. they were able to make a big, important, angry making piece television which was full of jokes making piece television which was full ofjokes and warmth. a fantastic group of very ordinary british people. all the sense of humour and the warmth they have we were able to put into this drama and it made it fun to watch, i think, in a way. i do not suppose most factual dramas aspire to do that. maybe it would be great if more great shows were made. i do not know if it would

have an automatic effect. they are very expensive to make and difficult to sell overseas. it is quite hollywood, in a way. we were not expecting it to be shown in the us. very welcome. i do not believe any of it. amazing. very welcome. i do not believe any of it- amazing-— very welcome. i do not believe any of it. amazing. you have got to know some of the — of it. amazing. you have got to know some of the people _ of it. amazing. you have got to know some of the people here _ of it. amazing. you have got to know some of the people here and - of it. amazing. you have got to know some of the people here and some i of it. amazing. you have got to know| some of the people here and some of the sub—postmasters who are watching all over the uk. what do you take from their stories?— all over the uk. what do you take from their stories? overall, 'ust an enormous from their stories? overall, 'ust an enmeus pride * from their stories? overall, 'ust an enormous pride in h from their stories? overall, 'ust an enormous pride in being _ from their stories? overall, just an enormous pride in being one - from their stories? overall, just an enormous pride in being one of - from their stories? overall, just an i enormous pride in being one of these people, part of this group. a pride in how amazingly resourceful and resilient people can be. there have been terrible tragedies along the way, i am not minimising the loss of life and loss of health and marriages and savings. here, everybody still is marching along

altogether, shoulder to shoulder, making change in their lives and in the general life of our country. i do not think governments want people like this in the future. i hope we have contributed to that.- like this in the future. i hope we have contributed to that. tom, you were a sub-postmaster _ have contributed to that. tom, you were a sub-postmaster in - were a sub—postmaster in lincolnshire. thank you for coming here today. the sense of comradeship, do you feel that this morning? comradeship, do you feel that this mornini? ~ , , ' morning? absolutely. i remember15 ears aio, morning? absolutely. i remember15 years ago. when _ morning? absolutely. i remember15 years ago. when i— morning? absolutely. i remember15 years ago, when i walked _ morning? absolutely. i remember15 years ago, when i walked not - morning? absolutely. i remember15 years ago, when i walked not into i years ago, when i walked not into this room — years ago, when i walked not into this room but another room a few miles— this room but another room a few miles up— this room but another room a few miles up the road and suddenly i was surrounded _ miles up the road and suddenly i was surrounded by 50, 60 other people telling _ surrounded by 50, 60 other people telling exactly the same story, slight — telling exactly the same story, slight variations, on what had happened to me. all the time it was going _ happened to me. all the time it was going on— happened to me. all the time it was going on in— happened to me. all the time it was going on in my office, we all were

told _ going on in my office, we all were told. it— going on in my office, we all were told. it is— going on in my office, we all were told, it is only you, this is not happening _ told, it is only you, this is not happening. no, no, this system is bombproof — happening. no, no, this system is bombproof. suddenly, i heard rumours that one _ bombproof. suddenly, i heard rumours that one or— bombproof. suddenly, i heard rumours that one or two other people had come _ that one or two other people had come along and when i bothered to check, _ come along and when i bothered to check, when i could make myself check_ check, when i could make myself check it— check, when i could make myself check it out— check, when i could make myself check it out because when this catastrophe hit me, it whacked me on the floor— catastrophe hit me, it whacked me on the floor and — catastrophe hit me, it whacked me on the floor and it took a while to sort _ the floor and it took a while to sort of— the floor and it took a while to sort of get back on my feet. then i thought, no, the anger kicked in. it was wonderful that day to walk through— was wonderful that day to walk through the door and there were 40, 50 people _ through the door and there were 40, 50 people saying exactly the same thin- 50 people saying exactly the same thing as— 50 people saying exactly the same thing as me. it was wonderful. it is only the _ thing as me. it was wonderful. it is only the fact — thing as me. it was wonderful. it is only the fact that we got together as a group and became effective. but i as a group and became effective. but i have _ as a group and became effective. but i have got— as a group and became effective. but i have got to hand it to the drama

that really— i have got to hand it to the drama that really blew the roof of it. there — that really blew the roof of it. there were a popular panorama programme is made, a series that nick wallace did, five or 615 minute shows _ nick wallace did, five or 615 minute shows. they were all very good but it took— shows. they were all very good but it took a _ shows. they were all very good but it took a drama to really blasted into the — it took a drama to really blasted into the stratosphere. that is a good _ into the stratosphere. that is a good word... into the stratosphere. that is a good word- - -— into the stratosphere. that is a good word... that is a very good hrase. good word... that is a very good phrase- you _ good word... that is a very good phrase. you should _ good word... that is a very good phrase. you should be _ good word... that is a very good phrase. you should be a - good word... that is a very good phrase. you should be a writer! | phrase. you should be a writer! thank you so much from all of you for now. so much more talking yet to come. tom can come up with more dramatic phrases as the morning goes on. more from gizmo as well. i bet sally likes gizmo. you know me so well. i love gizmo.

now her dramatic report from yesterday's football. we are in the midst of one of the most thrilling title races in years. there are three teams in the mix. for manchester united, the amount of shots liverpool had, they should have won and missed the chance to move back to the top of the table. these are small margins which will eventually decide the title race. isn't it great that it is so exciting at this point in the season? previously, we might have had a winner already by now. historically, it is a two horse race but this season it is a three horse race. perhaps but this season it is a three horse

race. perhaszurgen klopp might be enjoying it a little more had he won yesterday. yes, just one point now separating arsenal, liverpool in second, and manchester city in third with seven games to go. but having gifted united a goal yesterday, jurgen klopp's hopes of winning the league in his final season were dealt a blow after liverpool's 2—2 draw at old trafford, as ben croucher reports. an afternoon in the life ofjurgen klopp. never a dull moment. for his last visit to old trafford as liverpool boss gave him highs, lows, everything in between. so was it fun to be part of a game like that? as for the neutral, maybe. it's not too nice or too beautiful when you are involved. and i thought we did in a lot of moments really, really well — again. so that was good. creating is good. finishing off is not as good. so we are where we are and we will keep giving it a proper go. that's all. they showed it in the first half against manchester united. but luis diaz's opener was all they had to show from 15 shots.

united didn't even manage one. but, in this funny old game, absolutely anything can happen from absolutely anywhere. it's a magnificent finish. a united comeback seemed far fetched. it needed something special. oh, wow. it got it. kobbie mainoo, denting liverpool's title, hopes only for aaron wan—bissaka's lunge to give them a boost. and when liverpool needed a lifeline, mo salah duly delivered it. a point gained or two dropped — we'll let you decide. from another crazy afternoon in manchester, it was a game that gave us all the feels. ben croucher, bbc news. we are heading for a breathless and to this season. tottenham are up to fourth, ahead of aston villa, after beating nottingham forest. some great goals, one from defender micky van der ven in a 3—1win. and that boosts their hopes of champions league football next season, with only goal difference is now keeping forest out of the premier league relegation places.

sheffield united salvaged a draw at home to chelsea, oli mcburnie with the goal. they remain rooted to the bottom of the table, nine points from safety. the title race in england's heading towards a nailbiting finish — the same can be said for the scottish premiership. sunday's six—goal thriller at ibrox means rangers are nowjust a point behind leaders celtic. this one lived up to the hype. celtic — with no away fans — took the lead, virtually straight from kick off. but after going 2—up rangers then drew level. it had looked like adam idah's finish six minutes from time was going to put celtic four points clear at the top, but look at this a stunning stoppage—time equaliser from rabbi matondo made it 3—3, leaving rangers still in the title race.

this was a race billed as the most competitive domestic swimming race in history, the outcome of which means olympic champion tom dean will not get to defend his olympic 200m freestyle title in paris. matt richards won this one and that means he qualifies for the event in paris alongside duncan scott who finished second. dean finished third and won't get the chance to defend the title he won in tokyo last time out. he had said he was hoping to win five medals in paris, but will only contest one individual event. you're never going to have it all your way. there's always going to be highs and lows. we see that day in, day out. i said to somebody earlier, you know, "at this meet, for every person that's happy, there's five that are gutted." you know, and that's always the way in elite sport. you know, thankfully, this week for me, it came out my way. those events went the direction we needed them to go. but, you know, the work doesn't stop here by any means. you know, we've got a hell of a job to do in the summer. you know, everybody around the world is going to be looking to try and win those events, as am i.

i've been top three in the world for three years in a row, and it shows the calibre of this competition. that's what you've got to do just to get on the team. so always happy to stand on the podium with these boys. the gb boys 200 free is the best in the world. there's no other country quite like it. and i know that we're going to paris and do the job. these boys will get the job done out in france, so that's the main thing. and, yeah, relays, relays, relays. anna hopkin qualified for paris in the 100m freestyle to complete the british sprint double by following up her win in the 50m event. hopkin will be hoping to add to the the mixed medley relay gold she won at the tokyo games. and we speak a lot about the cost of hosting multi sport games such as the olympics. well, organisers of the commonwealth games say they are "considering multiple proposals" to host the event in 2026, despite continued uncertainty over its long—term

future. the 2022 games in birmingham cost almost £780 million, a former adviser to the council said hosting the event was a mistake. last week, singaporejoined malaysia in ruling out a 2026 bid. the australian state of victoria withdrew as the original hosts because of rising costs. the commonwealth games federation said it was "excited by the early concepts, which aim to reset and reframe the games". three english sides will feature in the european cup quarterfinals. setting — the european cup quarterfinals. setting up a home against south africa bulls. publicans will travel to bordeaux. exeter chiefs face a different away trip to five—time winners, toulouse. thank you very

much. now for a look at the weather. we had talked about the total solar eclipse happening in the united states. unfortunately, seems like it will be cloudy. we will see a partial solar eclipse. it is about 115 miles wide. some places will see it, some will not because of the cloud cover. in the uk, west is best. this evening it would be cloudy and wet. your best chance is the outer hebrides, possibly parts of northern ireland. do not look directly at it this week will stand settled. often wet and windy. cooler than at the weekend until we get to the latter part of the week when it warms up

once again. if you are stepping out not particularly cold. a new peak, it is 11 degrees. a wee bit cooler in belfast had only five. this is what is left of storm kathleen which brought all the wet and windy weather this weekend. you probably saw their next area of low pressure coming in from the south—west introducing thicker cloud and also when. as we start the day in the south—east, hazy sunshine with showers later. there is rain continuing to push on across south—west england, wales, getting into north—west england and ireland during the day, preceded by showery rain. the brightest conditions in the north of scotland when sunshine and winds will ease. the breeze will pick up along the coast of devon and cornwall and the islands. as we were talking about the cloud and the rain around this evening for the partial

solar eclipse, you can see what i am talking about. quite a bit of cloud and rain. the western isles will be the most favoured. this rain will pull northwards and push east as we go through the course of tuesday. overnight, these are the overnight lows. we pick up this band of cloud and rain. some hillsnow lows. we pick up this band of cloud and rain. some hill snow above 800 metres in the highlands. the rain will drift off in the direction of the north sea. sunshine and showers follow. a windy day wherever you are with coastal towns of wales and the south coast of england. temperatures down on today. it will feel much cooler, eight to 12 degrees. that is because the wind is coming from the north—west. you can see the cooler air, indicated by the blues. a warm front is coming in. that will pull

in south—westerly winds. it will bring in some rain. we start off with sunshine in the east. cloud will build and the rain passing from the west, pushing east. a windy day as well on wednesday. it will be milder coming in from the west. 14, 15 degrees. into the latter part of the week, look at the temperatures. in london they creep up once again to 20 degrees. there will be rain and showers at times and a lot of dry weather and sunshine as well. good to know. thank you very much. see you soon. the next series of strictly come dancing might not be out for a while — but anyone missing the glitter and sequins will soon be able to see the strictly professionals tour, which starts next month. we'll be speaking to dancers luba mushtuk and jowita przystal shortly — but first, take a look. # thunderstruck!

# yeah, yeah, yeah. # thunderstruck! # ooh, thunderstruck. .. # and i wonder why we hold on. # with tears in our eyes. # and i wonder why we have to break down to just make things right... # and with the radio blasting. # goes cruising just as fast as she can now. # and she'll have fun, fun, fun. # now that daddy takes the t—bird away. # fun, fun, fun. # now we'll have fun, fun, fun. # now that daddy takes the t—bird away... # everybody. # yeah.

# rock your body. # yeah. # everybody. # backstreet's back, all right! luba mushtuk and jowita przystaljoin me now. that is what we need. a little bit of dancing. how are you? i of dancing. how are you? excited. i bet ou of dancing. how are you? excited. i bet you are- — of dancing. how are you? excited. i bet you are. not _ of dancing. how are you? excited. i bet you are. not having _ of dancing. how are you? excited. i bet you are. not having to - of dancing. how are you? excited. i bet you are. not having to dance i bet you are. not having to dance with a celebrity not knowing that two eat from each other. what is it like a king on a professional tour with people you know so well? == like a king on a professional tour with people you know so well? -- two feat. we with people you know so well? -- two feat- we are — with people you know so well? -- two feat. we are like _ with people you know so well? -- two feat. we are like a _ with people you know so well? -- two feat. we are like a family, _ with people you know so well? -- two feat. we are like a family, like - feat. we are like a family, like brothers and sisters. to be able to create every year a beautiful show for the audience is a blessing. i always say i am so happy i can share

the stage with the best dancers in the stage with the best dancers in the world. we the stage with the best dancers in the world. . ., . ,, . , ., ., the world. we watch strictly on a saturday night — the world. we watch strictly on a saturday night and _ the world. we watch strictly on a saturday night and think- the world. we watch strictly on a saturday night and think they - the world. we watch strictly on a j saturday night and think they are amazing. what the audience may not know is you have all won championships, competitions, internationals. you are the best dancers in the world. that internationals. you are the best dancers in the world.— internationals. you are the best dancers in the world. that is why so man of dancers in the world. that is why so many of us — dancers in the world. that is why so many of us are _ dancers in the world. that is why so many of us are excited _ dancers in the world. that is why so many of us are excited about - dancers in the world. that is why so many of us are excited about the i dancers in the world. that is why so | many of us are excited about the 12. we have a chance to show what we are made of and really go for it. home made of and really go for it. how difficult is it — made of and really go for it. how difficult is it to _ made of and really go for it. how difficult is it to show _ made of and really go for it. how difficult is it to show who dances with head, what the music is, the choreography?— with head, what the music is, the choreography? how does all of that work? it is not _ choreography? how does all of that work? it is not up _ choreography? how does all of that work? it is not up to us, _ work? it is not up to us, thankfully.— work? it is not up to us, thankfull . . . ., , thankfully. we have a genius. somehow _ thankfully. we have a genius. somehow makes _ thankfully. we have a genius. somehow makes it _ thankfully. we have a genius. somehow makes it bigger - thankfully. we have a genius. | somehow makes it bigger and thankfully. we have a genius. - somehow makes it bigger and better every year. _ somehow makes it bigger and better every year, i do not know how he does _ every year, i do not know how he does it _ every year, i do not know how he does it. , , ., ., every year, i do not know how he does it. , , . ., ., , does it. his brain and talent is something _ does it. his brain and talent is something else. _ does it. his brain and talent is something else. he _ does it. his brain and talent is something else. he knows - does it. his brain and talent is something else. he knows so| does it. his brain and talent is - something else. he knows so well. he casts, choreographs. he does that in

the best way possible. we dance with everybody. we mix a lot. we do same six couples on tour. i had a —— i had the pleasure to dance with luba once. so i last year you danced with karen. we mix.— karen. we mix. does he look at her and think, — karen. we mix. does he look at her and think, jowita _ karen. we mix. does he look at her and think, jowita przystal _ karen. we mix. does he look at her and think, jowita przystaljenny - and think, jowita przystaljenny macro is really good at this and lubais macro is really good at this and luba is good at that? —— jowita is really good at this. shes luba is good at that? -- jowita is really good at this.— really good at this. as she said, jason really _ really good at this. as she said, jason really knows _ really good at this. as she said, jason really knows us _ really good at this. as she said, jason really knows us so - really good at this. as she said, jason really knows us so well. i really good at this. as she said, | jason really knows us so well. he always makes sure that we look in

the best possible way.— the best possible way. there was recently the _ the best possible way. there was recently the other _ the best possible way. there was recently the other strictly - the best possible way. there was recently the other strictly talk i recently the other strictly talk another tricky live tour. hose recently the other strictly talk another tricky live tour. how was that? amazing. _ another tricky live tour. how was that? amazing. so _ another tricky live tour. how was that? amazing. so nice _ another tricky live tour. how was that? amazing. so nice to - another tricky live tour. how was that? amazing. so nice to go - another tricky live tour. how was i that? amazing. so nice to go around the country, meet people, meet the audience and be able to share all of that. it is kind of like one live show and it is so nice that people can engage with us in that. they vote at the end for that favourite couple. it is so beautiful. to have time with celebrities when they don't feel anxious about the live show, you know? we perform every day the same show. the show, you know? we perform every day the same show-— the same show. the nurse have gone. the nerves — the same show. the nurse have gone. the nerves had _ the same show. the nurse have gone. the nerves had gone. _ the same show. the nurse have gone. the nerves had gone. there _ the same show. the nurse have gone. the nerves had gone. there is - the same show. the nurse have gone. the nerves had gone. there is still- the nerves had gone. there is still adrenaline and positiveness. —— the nerves. the nerves and being...

properfun. nerves. the nerves and being... properfun— proper fun. less pressure? definitely- _ proper fun. less pressure? definitely. luba, _ proper fun. less pressure? definitely. luba, you - proper fun. less pressure? definitely. luba, you have| proper fun. less pressure? i definitely. luba, you havejust definitely. luba, you have 'ust become a fi definitely. luba, you have 'ust become a british i definitely. luba, you have 'ust become a british citizen. h definitely. luba, you havejust become a british citizen. it - definitely. luba, you havejust become a british citizen. it is. definitely. luba, you havejust. become a british citizen. it is one ofthe become a british citizen. it is one of the happiest — become a british citizen. it is one of the happiest moments. - become a british citizen. it is one of the happiest moments. i - become a british citizen. it is one i of the happiest moments. i started the year by getting british citizenship. it is the hardest test i had done in my life. i am sure so many british people will have a hard time answering those questions. iersihsztt time answering those questions. what sort of thing? — time answering those questions. what sort of thing? a _ time answering those questions. what sort of thing? a lot _ time answering those questions. what sort of thing? a lot of _ time answering those questions. what sort of thing? a lot of numbers. - time answering those questions. what sort of thing? a lot of numbers. it - sort of thing? a lot of numbers. it is so... sort of thing? a lot of numbers. it is so- -- it — sort of thing? a lot of numbers. it isso--- it is— sort of thing? a lot of numbers. it is so... it is historical, _ sort of thing? a lot of numbers. it is so... it is historical, barry, - is so... it is historical, barry, barry. i passed it my first time. —— very, very. i have worked in this country for so long. to get this is a real honour.—

a real honour. and it feels like home from — a real honour. and it feels like home from home. _ a real honour. and it feels like home from home. she - a real honour. and it feels like home from home. she did - a real honour. and it feels like home from home. she did so. a real honour. and it feels like - home from home. she did so easy. i have seen big _ home from home. she did so easy. i have seen big questions. _ home from home. she did so easy. i have seen big questions. there - home from home. she did so easy. i have seen big questions. there is i home from home. she did so easy. i have seen big questions. there is an app have seen big questions. there is an app you _ have seen big questions. there is an app you can — have seen big questions. there is an app you can try to test the questions. | app you can try to test the questions-— app you can try to test the questions. app you can try to test the cuestions. . ., , �* , questions. i made so many british friends try it _ questions. i made so many british friends try it and _ questions. i made so many british friends try it and they _ questions. i made so many british friends try it and they didn't - questions. i made so many british friends try it and they didn't pass, | friends try it and they didn't pass, none of them. i friends try it and they didn't pass, none of them.— friends try it and they didn't pass, none of them. i might think about it. have none of them. i might think about it- have my _ none of them. i might think about it. have my notes. _ none of them. i might think about it. have my notes. looking - none of them. i might think about | it. have my notes. looking forward to the big series _ it. have my notes. looking forward to the big series next _ it. have my notes. looking forward to the big series next year? - it. have my notes. looking forward to the big series next year? tell i it. have my notes. looking forward to the big series next year? tell usj to the big series next year? tell us about it. , . , to the big series next year? tell us about it-_ you - to the big series next year? tell us| about it._ you need about it. fingers crossed. you need to watch and _ about it. fingers crossed. you need to watch and find _ about it. fingers crossed. you need to watch and find out. _ about it. fingers crossed. you need to watch and find out. we _ about it. fingers crossed. you need to watch and find out. we have - to watch and find out. we have everything _ to watch and find out. we have everything crossed. _ to watch and find out. we have everything crossed. it - to watch and find out. we have everything crossed. it will - to watch and find out. we have everything crossed. it will be i everything crossed. it will be amazing. the strictly come dancing professionals tour starts next month. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are.

hello, good morning from bbc london, i'm leigh milner. another day of strike action by train drivers will affect millions of passengers on some of london's busiest commuter lines today. aslef members working for greateranglia, c2c, great northern, thameslink, southern and south western railway are all taking action. services to stansted, luton and gatwick airports will also be affected. a further £3 million of government funding has been announced today for hammersmith bridge. the money will be used to resurface a temporary cycle lane on the bridge and make it permanent. it's now been closed to cars for five years this week, whilst the wait for strengthening work continues. microsoft have just announced this morning they're going to open a new a! hub in london. in the coming weeks, the company says it'll be recruiting staff who will be based in paddington. microsoft recently

pledged £2.5 billion in the uk to drive the growth of artificial intelligence. let's take a look at the tubes now. and on the northern line, there's no service between golders green and edgware due to planned engineering works. onto the weather, and after a rather dry morning, there'll be outbreaks of heavy rain in the afternoon with a risk of thundery downpours. rather warm, though — highs of 18 degrees. that's it from me. i'll be backjust after 9:00.

brea kfast. the programme is alive this morning from fenny compton, the village where, 15 years ago, the mass campaign forjustice in the post office scandal began. fenny compton. fenny? compton. just the place to start i really annoying the hell out of the post office. this morning, some experts of the postmasters have returned to this hole for the first time. —— some ex—sub postmasters. it's amazing, and it has changed a little bit, but, yeah, 15 years have gone by, can you believe? and it's taken this long for it... as you can see, i was the only one

it was happening to! we arejoined here by nearly we are joined here by nearly 60 people whose lives have been changed forever, including some who have never shared their stories until now. you knew you hadn't took a penny. but nobody else believed you didn't because this post office was telling everybody you did! and you didn't. we will put their questions to the post office minister, kevin hollinrake, who willjoin us. and at the start of a huge week for the public inquiry, we'll hear from the people in this room about what they want to happen next, as their fight for the truth continues. good morning from fenny compton village hall in warwickshire. if you watched the itv drama mr bates vs the post office, you will know the significance of this place. more than 10 million of us watched

that. it's where alan bates first gathered subpostmasters from across the country to begin their long campaign for justice. and this morning some of those who were here for that very first meeting have come back — for a special edition of bbc breakfast. some of them have travelled hundreds of miles. some have never told their stories publicly before. in fact, some have never told their stories to their families ever before. on cue, all of you, for being here. —— thank you, all of you, for being here. the post office horizon it scandal is widely regarded as one of the biggest miscarriages ofjustice in uk history. hundreds of people, some in this hall, were wrongly prosecuted when money went missing from branch accounts. some people in this room were jailed.

some lost their homes and life savings trying to stay afloat. families were torn apart. lives were lost. and in the end, a faulty computer system was to blame. but who knew what — and when? this week, the public inquiry into the scandal resumes in london. among the witnesses will be former post office bosses — and alan bates himself. here on breakfast this morning, we'll hear some heart—breaking stories about the ongoing impact of the scandal on these people's lives. and their determination to fight together. and shortly, the post office minister kevin hollinrake willjoin us in the village hall — to answer questions from you. i know you have been thinking hard about what you want to ask him and we look forward to giving you that opportunity. all that to come, but first emma simpson can bring us up to date. fenny compton. fenny? compton. just the place to start i

really annoying the hell out of the post office. she chuckles. the moment in the itv drama where former subpostmaster alan bates picks the spot for the fightback. alan! jo hamilton is there to meet him. they'd no idea how many would come for the first meeting — but come, they did. hello, jo! hello! the realjo hamilton remembers it well. it galvanised me, certainly — made me so angry when we all told exactly the same stories, and you realised we'd all been shafted. in the beginning, we were just a little circle in the middle. but it ended up — the word spread, and more and more postmasters came. and, er, yeah, we... look where we are. it's been a long road, though. that first campaign meeting in fenny compton was in 2009. eight years later, alan bates took legal action against the post office, and his group eventually won. in 2021, the court of appeal quashed

the convictions of 39 subpostmasters in a landmark ruling. the year after, the public inquiry began hearing evidence — starting with the victims. the next phase starts in this room tomorrow. the inquiry has slowly been trying to join the dots, and it's now focusing on who knew what at the top. centre stage will be former post office boss paula vennells. here she is in parliament defending the horizon it system. if there had been any miscarriages ofjustice, it would have been really important to me and the post office that we actually surface those. and, as the investigations have gone through so far, we've had no evidence of that. of course, there'll be dozens of other witnesses — from board members and barristers, to key politicians and government officials. first up, though, in the witness chair, will be alan bates. people have got to be held accountable. i see no sign of it yet, er...

but i think, after the inquiry, then i think that's definitely the next stage. and then we start looking at prosecutions. notjust that, as well — i mean, huge bonuses have been paid to people over the years. some of that should be clawed back. all eyes are now on what this inquiry is about to uncover. we've done the groundwork. we've found out the system was broken and that people knew the system was broken. so now we're going to find out what the leaders of the post office did with that information. we are deeply concerned that there is growing evidence that there was a cover—up. victims will be watching. they want accountability, too — as well as full and fair compensation. emma simpson, bbc news. victims will be watching. well, these victims will all definitely be watching. many of them wear with alan bates in this very hall 15

years ago when he first brought together sub postmasters from across the country and said, look, something is wrong here, something is going on, we need to challenge this, fight it. joe hamilton, we saw you in that piece. once again, like in the drama, cakes in hand. ida you in that piece. once again, like in the drama, cakes in hand. no cake toda . we in the drama, cakes in hand. no cake today- we will _ in the drama, cakes in hand. no cake today. we will find _ in the drama, cakes in hand. no cake today. we will find some. _ in the drama, cakes in hand. no cake today. we will find some. what - in the drama, cakes in hand. no cake today. we will find some. what is - in the drama, cakes in hand. no cake today. we will find some. what is it i today. we will find some. what is it like for all of _ today. we will find some. what is it like for all of you _ today. we will find some. what is it like for all of you to _ today. we will find some. what is it like for all of you to be _ today. we will find some. what is it like for all of you to be back- today. we will find some. what is it like for all of you to be back here? | like for all of you to be back here? well, look at it, will all the only ones. literally where the sofa was was where our circle of chairs was. but what a waste of 15 years and millions of pounds. but, yeah, we are still fighting because it is not over. ., y ., are still fighting because it is not over. . , ., , ., are still fighting because it is not over. . , ., ., are still fighting because it is not over. . ., , over. can you explain to people watchin: over. can you explain to people watching at _ over. can you explain to people watching at home _ over. can you explain to people watching at home this - over. can you explain to people watching at home this morning | over. can you explain to people i watching at home this morning the bond between you all here? i have really enjoyed seeing you hugging and embracing and supporting one another here in the flesh today, but that goes on by phone, text all the

time. ., ~ that goes on by phone, text all the time. . . ., ., , ., time. yeah. we have a number of whatsa- time. yeah. we have a number of whatsapp groups _ time. yeah. we have a number of whatsapp groups and _ time. yeah. we have a number of whatsapp groups and we - time. yeah. we have a number of whatsapp groups and we are - time. yeah. we have a number of whatsapp groups and we are all i time. yeah. we have a number of- whatsapp groups and we are all there for each other. literally, if anyone is having a wobble there is always people around who are close by to pick them up and carry them forward because that is what it is all about. �* ., ., ., about. all of you here on the sofa where he at _ about. all of you here on the sofa where he at that _ about. all of you here on the sofa where he at that very _ about. all of you here on the sofa where he at that very first - about. all of you here on the sofa where he at that very first day. i where he at that very first day. seema, you were sent to prison when you are pregnant. you were later cleared. as you look back to that first meeting in this hall, how important was that moment in your long fight? it important was that moment in your [one fiuht? .,, important was that moment in your [one fiuht? , important was that moment in your lonutfiht? , ., long fight? it was very important because i long fight? it was very important because i was — long fight? it was very important because i was told, _ long fight? it was very important because i was told, we _ long fight? it was very important because i was told, we have - long fight? it was very important because i was told, we have so i long fight? it was very important - because i was told, we have so many post offices _ because i was told, we have so many post offices doing it's just your post _ post offices doing it's just your post office having issues. just you? just ou. post office having issues. just you? just you- when _ post office having issues. just you? just you. when you _ post office having issues. just you? just you. when you came _ post office having issues. just you? just you. when you came here - post office having issues. just you? just you. when you came here and. post office having issues. just you? i just you. when you came here and saw other people, it was a relief. i was

mad it was happening to other people, as well.— mad it was happening to other --eole, as well. ., ., i. ., people, as well. how are you doing now? good. _ people, as well. how are you doing now? good, still— people, as well. how are you doing now? good, still fighting, - people, as well. how are you doing now? good, still fighting, the - people, as well. how are you doing now? good, still fighting, the fight| now? good, still fighting, the fight is still on until— now? good, still fighting, the fight is still on until proper— is still on until proper accountability is done, but we are altogether. accountability is done, but we are altogether-— accountability is done, but we are altoiether. ., . , . altogether. you are pregnant when ou were altogether. you are pregnant when you were sent _ altogether. you are pregnant when you were sent to _ altogether. you are pregnant when you were sent to prison. _ altogether. you are pregnant when you were sent to prison. what - altogether. you are pregnant when you were sent to prison. what the | altogether. you are pregnant when i you were sent to prison. what the -- you were sent to prison. what the —— what do your children make of it? might eldest son, i was eight weeks pregnant and we didn't know what to say to him when he was 13 and we said mummy is pregnant and she is going to special hospital. iersfheh said mummy is pregnant and she is going to special hospital. when you went to prison? _ going to special hospital. when you went to prison? we _ going to special hospital. when you went to prison? we didn't - going to special hospital. when you went to prison? we didn't tell- going to special hospital. when you went to prison? we didn't tell him i went to prison? we didn't tell him where we went _ went to prison? we didn't tell him where we went until _ went to prison? we didn't tell him where we went until 2019, - went to prison? we didn't tell him where we went until 2019, what i where we went until 2019, what happened to us. didn't know what to say. i promised him in the morning i would be back home. why would somebody send me to prison for a crime i never committed? it was his tenth birthday on that particular day. so

tenth birthday on that particular da _ , ., , tenth birthday on that particular day. so sorry for everything you have been _ day. so sorry for everything you have been through, _ day. so sorry for everything you have been through, everything | day. so sorry for everything you i have been through, everything you have been through, everything you have all been through. lee castleton, thank you for being here, people will have seen your story, played by will mellor. the sacrifices, the impact on your family. do you share the sense of disbelief even after everything? when you see it on tv, reading the paper, did this really happen? shes paper, did this really happen? is probably everybody would testify, the journey for all of us has been so painful that we feel it every day and we still have to give each other support because it is not over, it is still ongoing and still tough. it is still ongoing and still tough. it is hard to get up every morning and keep battling on and we offer everybody our group support because we know how tough it is. i cannot believe it, i cannot believe we have been through what we have been through, but i think it makes us better and strongerfor through, but i think it makes us better and stronger for it and i think the group itself is just an

absolute testimony to our culture and friendships and everything we have been through. it is a fantastic group, and i'm very proud to be a member of the group, it is a wonderful group.— member of the group, it is a wonderful group. that support and friendshi - , wonderful group. that support and friendship, how _ wonderful group. that support and friendship, how does _ wonderful group. that support and friendship, how does it manifest? | friendship, how does it manifest? what things go on among the people here? ., ., , ., , here? there are lots of things we don't have _ here? there are lots of things we don't have to _ here? there are lots of things we don't have to say _ here? there are lots of things we don't have to say to _ here? there are lots of things we don't have to say to each - here? there are lots of things we don't have to say to each other i don't have to say to each other because we just feel it, we just get it. we might not see each other for months. seema and i met last week to do something and it was just wonderfuljust to have a hug and, you know, it is a different level. it is like family members, we are like a family. we get it, we understand and we correspond all the time but maybe not see each other as regularly as we would like but when we do see each other it is special, really good. we do see each other it is special, really good-— we do see each other it is special, reall iood. ., . , ., really good. you have benefited from that sense of — really good. you have benefited from that sense of support, _ really good. you have benefited from that sense of support, haven't - really good. you have benefited from that sense of support, haven't you? i that sense of support, haven't you? you have been through a tough, tough

time. you have a breakdown, you were sectioned because of the impact this has had on you and all charges dropped, you had done nothing wrong. how have these people helped you, jess? ~ ., ., how have these people helped you, jess? . jess? well, we have a whatsapp group called winners- — jess? well, we have a whatsapp group called winners. winners? _ jess? well, we have a whatsapp group called winners. winners? for - jess? well, we have a whatsapp group called winners. winners? for a - called winners. winners? for a reason because _ called winners. winners? for a reason because we _ called winners. winners? for a reason because we will- called winners. winners? for a reason because we will all- called winners. winners? for a reason because we will all be i reason because we will all be winners — reason because we will all be winners one _ reason because we will all be winners one day. _ reason because we will all be winners one day. they- reason because we will all be winners one day. they are i reason because we will all bej winners one day. they are all reason because we will all be - winners one day. they are all very helpfut _ winners one day. they are all very helpfut like — winners one day. they are all very helpful. like lee _ winners one day. they are all very helpful. like lee and _ winners one day. they are all very helpful. like lee and seema - winners one day. they are all very helpful. like lee and seema said, well— helpful. like lee and seema said, we'll get— helpful. like lee and seema said, we'll get in— helpful. like lee and seema said, we'll get in touch _ helpful. like lee and seema said, we'll get in touch with _ helpful. like lee and seema said, we'll get in touch with each - helpful. like lee and seema said, we'll get in touch with each otheri we'll get in touch with each other if we _ we'll get in touch with each other if we need — we'll get in touch with each other if we need any— we'll get in touch with each other if we need any advice, _ we'll get in touch with each other if we need any advice, any - if we need any advice, any comforting _ if we need any advice, any comforting but _ if we need any advice, any comforting but i _ if we need any advice, any comforting but i will- if we need any advice, any comforting but i will say i if we need any advice, any i comforting but i will say one if we need any advice, any - comforting but i will say one thing. iwent— comforting but i will say one thing. iwent to _ comforting but i will say one thing. i went to seema's_ comforting but i will say one thing. i went to seema's sentencing - comforting but i will say one thing. i went to seema's sentencing and i comforting but i will say one thing. | i went to seema's sentencing and it was a _ i went to seema's sentencing and it was a horrible — i went to seema's sentencing and it was a horrible feeling _ i went to seema's sentencing and it was a horrible feeling but _ i went to seema's sentencing and it was a horrible feeling but we - i went to seema's sentencing and it was a horrible feeling but we will. was a horrible feeling but we will .et was a horrible feeling but we will get through— was a horrible feeling but we will get through it _ was a horrible feeling but we will get through it. we _ was a horrible feeling but we will get through it. we will— was a horrible feeling but we will get through it. we will be - was a horrible feeling but we will get through it. we will be ok. i was a horrible feeling but we will get through it. we will be ok. [i get through it. we will be ok. i don't get through it. we will be ok. don't know if you can see at get through it. we will be ok]- don't know if you can see at home but these two are holding hands so tightly. are you ok?— but these two are holding hands so tightly. are you ok?- i - but these two are holding hands so tightly. are you ok? yeah. i know how tough — tightly. are you ok? yeah. i know how tough this — tightly. are you ok? yeah. i know how tough this is _ tightly. are you ok? yeah. i know how tough this is for _

tightly. are you ok? yeah. i know how tough this is for you, - tightly. are you ok? yeah. i know how tough this is for you, we - tightly. are you 0k? yeah. i know how tough this is for you, we were chatting beforehand but he wanted to talk and tell people in this room and people across the country and people in positions of authority why this is so important. what do you want people at home to know? that we are iuoin to want people at home to know? that we are going to get — want people at home to know? that we are going to get through _ want people at home to know? that we are going to get through this. - are going to get through this. everybody's _ are going to get through this. everybody's going _ are going to get through this. everybody's going to - are going to get through this. everybody's going to get - are going to get through this. i everybody's going to get through are going to get through this. - everybody's going to get through it. and the _ everybody's going to get through it. and the fact — everybody's going to get through it. and the fact that _ everybody's going to get through it. and the fact that when _ everybody's going to get through it. and the fact that when i— everybody's going to get through it. and the fact that when i was - everybody's going to get through it. and the fact that when i was in - and the fact that when i was in hospital. — and the fact that when i was in hospital. the _ and the fact that when i was in hospital, the post— and the fact that when i was in hospital, the post office - and the fact that when i was in hospital, the post office senti and the fact that when i was in - hospital, the post office sent their own personal — hospital, the post office sent their own personal doctors _ hospital, the post office sent their own personal doctors to _ hospital, the post office sent their own personal doctors to see - hospital, the post office sent their own personal doctors to see if - hospital, the post office sent their own personal doctors to see if i. hospital, the post office sent theiri own personal doctors to see if i was actually _ own personal doctors to see if i was actually it — own personal doctors to see if i was actually it and _ own personal doctors to see if i was actually ill. and that _ own personal doctors to see if i was actually ill. and that is _ own personal doctors to see if i was actually ill. and that is what - actually ill. and that is what really — actually ill. and that is what really hurt _ actually ill. and that is what really hurt the _ actually ill. and that is what really hurt the most. - actually ill. and that is what really hurt the most. that i actually ill. and that is what i really hurt the most. that they actually ill. and that is what - really hurt the most. that they had to get _ really hurt the most. that they had to get their— really hurt the most. that they had to get their own _ really hurt the most. that they had to get their own proof— really hurt the most. that they had to get their own proof that - really hurt the most. that they had to get their own proof that i - really hurt the most. that they had to get their own proof that i was i really hurt the most. that they had to get their own proof that i was in| to get their own proof that i was in hospital— to get their own proof that i was in hospital with — to get their own proof that i was in hospital with a _ to get their own proof that i was in hospital with a mental— to get their own proof that i was in hospital with a mental health - hospital with a mental health breakdown _ hospital with a mental health breakdown. [it— hospital with a mental health breakdown.— hospital with a mental health breakdown. �* , hospital with a mental health breakdown. �* . m breakdown. it wasn't believed? no. not at all. breakdown. it wasn't believed? no. not at all- i— breakdown. it wasn't believed? no. not at all. i can _ breakdown. it wasn't believed? no. not at all. i can hear _ breakdown. it wasn't believed? no. not at all. i can hear the _ breakdown. it wasn't believed? no. not at all. i can hear the gasps - not at all. i can hear the gasps from people — not at all. i can hear the gasps from people behind you. - not at all. i can hear the gasps from people behind you. in - not at all. i can hear the gasps| from people behind you. in this room. when you talked about that whatsapp group, winners, when do you think you will win?—

think you will win? there are too many broken _ think you will win? there are too many broken promises, - think you will win? there are too many broken promises, so - think you will win? there are too many broken promises, so we i think you will win? there are too i many broken promises, so we have never— many broken promises, so we have never got _ many broken promises, so we have never got a — many broken promises, so we have never got a date _ many broken promises, so we have never got a date. they _ many broken promises, so we have never got a date. theyjust - many broken promises, so we have never got a date. theyjust tell - many broken promises, so we have never got a date. theyjust tell us i never got a date. theyjust tell us something — never got a date. theyjust tell us something and _ never got a date. theyjust tell us something and we _ never got a date. theyjust tell us something and we all— never got a date. theyjust tell us something and we all look- never got a date. theyjust tell us| something and we all look forward never got a date. theyjust tell us i something and we all look forward to it, something and we all look forward to it. get— something and we all look forward to it. get excited — something and we all look forward to it, get excited about _ something and we all look forward to it, get excited about it, _ something and we all look forward to it, get excited about it, and - something and we all look forward to it, get excited about it, and then - it, get excited about it, and then it, get excited about it, and then itjust _ it, get excited about it, and then itjust goes — it, get excited about it, and then itjust goes back— it, get excited about it, and then it just goes back down _ it, get excited about it, and then it just goes back down again. - it, get excited about it, and then itjust goes back down again. maybe there is a question _ itjust goes back down again. maybe there is a question in _ itjust goes back down again. maybe there is a question in there - itjust goes back down again. maybe there is a question in there for- itjust goes back down again. maybe there is a question in there for the i there is a question in there for the post office minister, who willjoin us in a few minutes. to all of you for now, thank you very much indeed, keep holding that hand tight. thank you so much. we have got so many people here who have travelled so far to be with us this morning back to fenny compton, to where this all began. i need a cup of tea, i don't know about you. this is the place to come because, just like in the drama, it all ends up in here. morning, everybody. morning. jo hamilton — here. morning, everybody. morning. jo hamilton again, _ here. morning, everybody. morning. jo hamilton again, i— here. morning, everybody. morning. jo hamilton again, i told _ here. morning, everybody. morning. jo hamilton again, i told you - here. morning, everybody. morning. jo hamilton again, i told you you - jo hamilton again, i told you you always had cakes in the drama. did you use to bring sandwiches and cakes here from hampshire? yes! and takeaway cups — cakes here from hampshire? yes! and takeaway cups to _ cakes here from hampshire? yes! and takeaway cups to start _ cakes here from hampshire? yes! and takeaway cups to start off _ cakes here from hampshire? yes! and takeaway cups to start off with - takeaway cups to start off with because we were not sure how many

people would come so, yeah. my cakes are nicer! laughter what did you make of the drama? i imagine when they said to you, we are going to make this big thing for the tv, part if you thought, brilliant, it will bring it to public attention. part of you probably thought, oh, goodness me, that will be my story everywhere. i didn't mind my story everywhere because it kind of was anyway but i didn't expect to be quite as famous as i am now. and it really did hit home with the public and i think it spoke to the nation. all of us as part of the nation feel unheard, we feel the politicians don't listen to us, and it enraged everybody and drove it right up the political agenda for a change! we drove it right up the political agenda for a change! we have heard it has started _ agenda for a change! we have heard it has started showing _ agenda for a change! we have heard it has started showing in _ agenda for a change! we have heard it has started showing in the - agenda for a change! we have heard it has started showing in the statesl it has started showing in the states on tv last night so you potentially have an audience of many more millions. ., have an audience of many more millions.- david, - have an audience of many more millions.- david, your- have an audience of many more millions. yeah. david, your husband, is here. millions. yeah. david, your husband,

is here- how — millions. yeah. david, your husband, is here. how has _ millions. yeah. david, your husband, is here. how has this _ millions. ieéu david, your husband, is here. how has this impacted millions. iasai david, your husband, is here. how has this impacted on you? i think a lot of focus has been on the sub—postmaster is and mistresses but this is families, relatives, connections, communities. i think, remortgaging to pay the post _ i think, remortgaging to pay the post office the money they demanded, once the _ post office the money they demanded, once the logjam was built you could never _ once the logjam was built you could never get _ once the logjam was built you could never get over it. you were always financially — never get over it. you were always financially pushed. that was the biggest — financially pushed. that was the biggest thing, you know? debt around our ears, biggest thing, you know? debt around our ears. all— biggest thing, you know? debt around our ears, all the _ biggest thing, you know? debt around our ears, all the time. _ biggest thing, you know? debt around our ears, all the time. it _ biggest thing, you know? debt around our ears, all the time. it was - biggest thing, you know? debt around our ears, all the time. it was a - our ears, all the time. it was a seven-day _ our ears, all the time. it was a seven-day week, _ our ears, all the time. it was a seven-day week, basically. . our ears, all the time. it was a l seven-day week, basically. and another, seven-day week, basically. and another. and — seven—day week, basically. elic another, and another. seven-day week, basically. and another, and another. until- seven-day week, basically. and another, and another. untilyou seven-day week, basically. and - another, and another. until you were 70 something — another, and another. until you were 70 something and _ another, and another. until you were 70 something and physically - another, and another. until you were 70 something and physically can't - 70 something and physically can't because, you know... you 70 something and physically can't because, you know. . .— 70 something and physically can't because, you know... you have now acce ted because, you know... you have now accepted compensation, _ because, you know... you have now accepted compensation, you - because, you know... you have now accepted compensation, you have . accepted compensation, you have settled but it was tough. i accepted compensation, you have settled but it was tough.- settled but it was tough. i settled sure it's because _ settled but it was tough. i settled sure it's because david _ settled but it was tough. i settled sure it's because david was - settled but it was tough. i settled l sure it's because david was getting older and he was poorly last year and you think, well, there is no

point having it when you are not here that i am carrying the fight forward and i'm not going away because all of my friends need sorting out. this year, not next year. sorting out. this year, not next ear. ~ ., sorting out. this year, not next ear. ~ . ., . «m , sorting out. this year, not next ear. ~ . ., . ,, , year. waiting for a cake is gwynn who wrote _ year. waiting for a cake is gwynn who wrote the _ year. waiting for a cake is gwynn who wrote the drama _ year. waiting for a cake is gwynn who wrote the drama for- year. waiting for a cake is gwynn who wrote the drama for itv. - who wrote the drama for itv. congratulations on the huge success. we have heard the radio times have made the most influential bit of television of the moment. what was it about this project that you felt compelled to be part of? i it about this project that you felt compelled to be part of?- compelled to be part of? i think because i didn't _ compelled to be part of? i think because i didn't understand - compelled to be part of? i think because i didn't understand it . because i didn't understand it myself — because i didn't understand it myself i_ because i didn't understand it myself. i had _ because i didn't understand it myself. i had read _ because i didn't understand it myself. i had read bits - because i didn't understand it myself. i had read bits and i because i didn't understand it. myself. i had read bits and heard bits and — myself. i had read bits and heard bits and seenr _ myself. i had read bits and heard bits and seem bit _ myself. i had read bits and heard bits and seem bit on _ myself. i had read bits and heard bits and seem bit on tv - myself. i had read bits and heard bits and seem bit on tv but- myself. i had read bits and heard bits and seem bit on tv but i- bits and seem bit on tv but i couidni— bits and seem bit on tv but i couldn't understand - bits and seem bit on tv but i couldn't understand what - bits and seem bit on tv but i. couldn't understand what they bits and seem bit on tv but i- couldn't understand what they were on about _ couldn't understand what they were on about it — couldn't understand what they were on about. it seems _ couldn't understand what they were on about. it seems impossible - couldn't understand what they were on about. it seems impossible to. on about. it seems impossible to believe — on about. it seems impossible to believe what— on about. it seems impossible to believe. what do _ on about. it seems impossible to believe. what do you _ on about. it seems impossible to believe. what do you mean, - on about. it seems impossible to- believe. what do you mean, innocent people _ believe. what do you mean, innocent peopte in— believe. what do you mean, innocent pebble in my— believe. what do you mean, innocent pebble in my country— believe. what do you mean, innocent people in my country are _ believe. what do you mean, innocent people in my country are being - people in my country are being banged — people in my country are being banged up— people in my country are being banged up and— people in my country are being banged up and pursued - people in my country are being banged up and pursued for- people in my country are being. banged up and pursued for money people in my country are being - banged up and pursued for money they don't have? _ banged up and pursued for money they don't have? i_ banged up and pursued for money they don't have? iiust— banged up and pursued for money they don't have? ijust didn't— banged up and pursued for money they don't have? ijust didn't get— banged up and pursued for money they don't have? ijust didn't get it. - banged up and pursued for money they don't have? ijust didn't get it. i- don't have? ijust didn't get it. i canre _ don't have? ijust didn't get it. i canre into — don't have? ijust didn't get it. i canre into it— don't have? ijust didn't get it. i came into it hoping _ don't have? ijust didn't get it. i came into it hoping to _ don't have? ijust didn't get it. i came into it hoping to learn - don't have? ijust didn't get it. i came into it hoping to learn fori came into it hoping to learn for myself— came into it hoping to learn for myself what _ came into it hoping to learn for myself what was _ came into it hoping to learn for myself what was going - came into it hoping to learn for myself what was going on - came into it hoping to learn for myself what was going on and i came into it hoping to learn forj myself what was going on and i came into it hoping to learn for- myself what was going on and i think a lot of— myself what was going on and i think a lot of people — myself what was going on and i think

a lot of people in _ myself what was going on and i think a lot of people in the _ myself what was going on and i think a lot of people in the audience - myself what was going on and i think a lot of people in the audience felt. a lot of people in the audience felt that, _ a lot of people in the audience felt that, they— a lot of people in the audience felt that, they heard _ a lot of people in the audience felt that, they heard enough— a lot of people in the audience felt that, they heard enough to - a lot of people in the audience felt that, they heard enough to have . that, they heard enough to have their— that, they heard enough to have their interest _ that, they heard enough to have their interest peaked _ that, they heard enough to have their interest peaked and - that, they heard enough to have . their interest peaked and thought, tell me _ their interest peaked and thought, tell me some _ their interest peaked and thought, tell me some because _ their interest peaked and thought, tell me some because it— their interest peaked and thought, tell me some because it might - their interest peaked and thought, tell me some because it might be| tell me some because it might be interesting — tell me some because it might be interesting to _ tell me some because it might be interesting to learn _ tell me some because it might be interesting to learn about. - tell me some because it might be interesting to learn about.- interesting to learn about. there had been the _ interesting to learn about. there had been the documentaries - interesting to learn about. there had been the documentaries and interesting to learn about— had been the documentaries and the podcasts and newspaper articles but it took a drama, didn't it, really, to bring it to life for all of us. izzy is gel�*s sister. to bring it to life for all of us. izzy is gel's sister.— izzy is gel's sister. solicitor. solicitor! — izzy is gel's sister. solicitor. solicitor! sorry! _ izzy is gel's sister. solicitor. solicitor! sorry! -- - izzy is gel's sister. solicitor. solicitor! sorry! -- jo's - izzy is gel's sister. solicitor. - solicitor! sorry! -- jo's solicitor. solicitor! sorry! —— jo's solicitor. misheard. you came to the first meeting. i misheard. you came to the first meetinu. , , g ., . ,, . meeting. i represented 10 and seema and a number — meeting. i represented 10 and seema and a number of _ meeting. i represented 10 and seema and a number of other— and a number of other sub—postmasters. ifound it quite incredible. i still see it as it was yesterday. i sat there and everybody was coming out with the same stories and i'm thinking, this cannot be right. suddenly a whole room of

previously law—abiding citizens have all suddenly decided to turn to crime, cannot possibly be right. i felt there is a can of worms here but i couldn't find the tin opener. i didn't know the post office had it all along but wouldn't give it to me! ,, ., . , all along but wouldn't give it to me! ,, . . . me! susan and wendy are also here. from different _ me! susan and wendy are also here. from different parts _ me! susan and wendy are also here. from different parts of _ me! susan and wendy are also here. from different parts of the _ me! susan and wendy are also here. from different parts of the country, | from different parts of the country, but you formed a really special friendship. susan, you are from cornwall. wendy, you are from cheltenham. but when susan, you were in court, right? i cheltenham. but when susan, you were in court, right?— in court, right? i was in the appeal court and l — in court, right? i was in the appeal court and i had _ in court, right? i was in the appeal court and i had gone _ in court, right? i was in the appeal court and i had gone that - in court, right? i was in the appeal court and i had gone that day - in court, right? i was in the appeal court and i had gone that day with | court and i had gone that day with jo but— court and i had gone that day with jo but she — court and i had gone that day with jo but she had _ court and i had gone that day with jo but she had been _ court and i had gone that day with jo but she had been dragged - court and i had gone that day with jo but she had been dragged off. court and i had gone that day with . jo but she had been dragged off with other people — jo but she had been dragged off with other people and _ jo but she had been dragged off with other people and i _ jo but she had been dragged off with other people and i was _ jo but she had been dragged off with other people and i was stood - jo but she had been dragged off with other people and i was stood there l other people and i was stood there on nry— other people and i was stood there on nry own — other people and i was stood there on my own and _ other people and i was stood there on my own and all _ other people and i was stood there on my own and all of _ other people and i was stood there on my own and all of a _ other people and i was stood there on my own and all of a sudden - other people and i was stood there on my own and all of a sudden she| on my own and all of a sudden she 'ust on my own and all of a sudden she just appeared _ on my own and all of a sudden she just appeared. and, _ on my own and all of a sudden she just appeared. and, god, - on my own and all of a sudden she just appeared. and, god, did - on my own and all of a sudden she just appeared. and, god, did i- on my own and all of a sudden she. just appeared. and, god, did i need that hug~ _ just appeared. and, god, did i need that hug~ that — just appeared. and, god, did i need that hug. that was _ just appeared. and, god, did i need that hug. that was something - that hug. that was something special — that hug. that was something secial. ., . ., .., that hug. that was something secial. ., . ., u, ., special. you travelled to court to tive her special. you travelled to court to give her a _

special. you travelled to court to give her a hug- _ special. you travelled to court to give her a hug. to _ special. you travelled to court to give her a hug. to be _ special. you travelled to court to give her a hug. to be with - special. you travelled to court to give her a hug. to be with them | special. you travelled to court to . give her a hug. to be with them and tive them give her a hug. to be with them and give them sopport — give her a hug. to be with them and give them support because - give her a hug. to be with them and give them support because we - give her a hug. to be with them and give them support because we are l give them support because we are more _ give them support because we are more family than everything and i saw wendy and she was like... well, a rabbit— saw wendy and she was like... well, a rabbit in— saw wendy and she was like... well, a rabbit in the headlights. and i thought— a rabbit in the headlights. and i thought there is no one and ijust went— thought there is no one and ijust went over— thought there is no one and ijust went over and we just cried and hugged — went over and we 'ust cried and hut ted. ,, . . , hugged. she flew in and gave me this treat bit hugged. she flew in and gave me this great big hug — hugged. she flew in and gave me this great big hug and _ hugged. she flew in and gave me this great big hug and it _ hugged. she flew in and gave me this great big hug and it was _ hugged. she flew in and gave me this great big hug and it was very - great big hug and it was very meaningful _ great big hug and it was very meaningful. we _ great big hug and it was very meaningful-— great big hug and it was very meaningful. great big hug and it was very meanintful. ~ , �* ., meaningful. we 'ust didn't let go. it is a tong — meaningful. we 'ust didn't let go. it is a tong way — meaningful. we just didn't let go. it is a long way from _ meaningful. we just didn't let go. it is a long way from cornwall - it is a long way from cornwall to the high court to give a hug, but worth it? ~ , , ., the high court to give a hug, but worth it?_ lti the high court to give a hug, but. worth it?_ it is worth it? absolutely worth it. it is lovel to worth it? absolutely worth it. it is lovely to see _ worth it? absolutely worth it. it is lovely to see smiles _ worth it? absolutely worth it. it is lovely to see smiles and - worth it? absolutely worth it. it is lovely to see smiles and laughterl lovely to see smiles and laughter today. lovely to see smiles and laughter toda . ., , lovely to see smiles and laughter toda . . , ., lovely to see smiles and laughter toda . . , . ., lovely to see smiles and laughter toda . . , . . ., today. that is what we have found, meetint today. that is what we have found, meeting each _ today. that is what we have found, meeting each other _ today. that is what we have found, meeting each other and _ today. that is what we have found, meeting each other and last - today. that is what we have found, meeting each other and last night, | meeting each other and last night, the difference with people holding up the difference with people holding up their— the difference with people holding up their heads now to what it was a few years _ up their heads now to what it was a few years ago when we were in the courts _ few years ago when we were in the courts. ., u, , , few years ago when we were in the courts. ., .. , , , courts. you call us friends, but we are not friends, _ courts. you call us friends, but we are not friends, we _ courts. you call us friends, but we are not friends, we are _ courts. you call us friends, but we are not friends, we are family - courts. you call us friends, but we l are not friends, we are family now. you know? — are not friends, we are family now. you know? it— are not friends, we are family now. you know? it doesn't— are not friends, we are family now. you know? it doesn't matter- are not friends, we are family now. j you know? it doesn't matter where are not friends, we are family now. - you know? it doesn't matter where we came _ you know? it doesn't matter where we came from. _ you know? it doesn't matter where we came from. what— you know? it doesn't matter where we came from, what ethnicity, _ you know? it doesn't matter where we came from, what ethnicity, doesn't- came from, what ethnicity, doesn't matter _ came from, what ethnicity, doesn't matter we — came from, what ethnicity, doesn't matter we are _ came from, what ethnicity, doesn't

matter. we are family. _ came from, what ethnicity, doesn't matter. we are family. so - came from, what ethnicity, doesn't matter. we are family.— came from, what ethnicity, doesn't matter. we are family. so maybe you are a sister. — matter. we are family. so maybe you are a sister, not _ matter. we are family. so maybe you are a sister, not a _ matter. we are family. so maybe you are a sister, not a solicitor! _ are a sister, not a solicitor! laughter my intuition! thank you all so much. lovely to hear your stories and we will hear more like that. we are family. it feels like family in fenny compton village hall, it really feels that the family occasion. back here in the village hall, you are being looked after? yes. ., hall, you are being looked after? yes. . ,, , ., hall, you are being looked after? yes. . , yes. there are cakes and biscuits throuth yes. there are cakes and biscuits through there. _ yes. there are cakes and biscuits through there. we _ yes. there are cakes and biscuits through there. we will— yes. there are cakes and biscuits through there. we will give - yes. there are cakes and biscuits through there. we will give you l through there. we will give you some, we will give you some, we will give you some. we are joined here now on the sofa by kevin hollinrake and he has been on the programme many times before. thank you for coming. post office minister from the government. he has agreed to be here today to take questions from our sub—postmasters, which will be an interesting encounter. they have all come with all kinds of information, but before we have that interaction ijust information, but before we have that interaction i just want to introduce you to sharon and kevin on the end. they are from sunderland and they

haven't even told their story to some of their closest friends and family before. they have certainly never spoken to the media before. but they wanted to speak to bbc breakfast this morning because they wanted everybody to understand the impact this has had on them. not just the last year or two, but nearly 20 years of impact on their finances, and theirfamily nearly 20 years of impact on their finances, and their family life, nearly 20 years of impact on their finances, and theirfamily life, on their relationships, on their mental health. i spent a day with the two of them in sunderland hearing about their story and making a journey they hadn't made for some time. ijust loved going to work. loved the customers. there was never any getting up and going, "oh, god, work again today." it was a pleasure to go to work. how often have you been back? i haven't. never. if you don't want to do this or you want me to stop, or whatever, just... no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

you're fine. i just feel a bit sick. really? yeah. i can feel my heart racing. this is the first time sharon and kevin have told their story. at their home in sunderland, they explained to me how they spent their life savings trying to make up the shortfall when money started disappearing from their post office. i just couldn't. .. i couldn't figure it out. i just couldn't figure it out. i didn't even consider that was the computer — it didn't even enter my head. so you thought you were doing something wrong? yes! i thought it was me all the time. so you're just filling that black hole all the time. we were lumbered with a massive black hole. we still have two charging orders on this property at this moment in time. so we still owe debt, still got debt. kevin and sharon tell me they've lived with this for nearly 20 years — even having their home searched by post office investigators. they went in the kitchen. they checked all the kitchen cupboards.

they checked the fridge, the drawers. the fridge?! yes, they went into the garage where we had a fridge—freezer. they lifted the drawers out like that, checked underneath everything. i says, "what you looking for in there?" he says, "people hides money in different places all the time." he says, "i'm just checking every available place." in yourself, you knew you hadn't took a penny. but nobody else believed you didn't because this post office was telling everybody you did! and you didn't. for all you want to fight and shout and scream about it that you're innocent, you know, they're still going to take their side. you had members of your own family who thought you must have done something wrong. yeah, yeah. it's a post office. you must have done something — it's a post office, you know what i mean? you fell out with members of the family? yeah, i don't see any of them. i don't see any of my family. none of them. i haven't for years. there it is. in the corner.

where the lights are? yeah, that's me... that was me post office. what's it like to see it? awful, isn't it? it's awful, like. they just don't know what they've done to people, do the post office. what's it done to you? sum it up for us. broke us. broke us. ijust locked myself in the house. just didn't go out shopping, didn't go out, didn't see me friends, didn't do anything. i just didn't want to be here. just didn't want to be here at all. er... and that's when i nearly did something stupid. till i seen the bairns' photographs in here — 2:00 in the morning — and i knew i couldn't leave them, so... i was awful. and i'm so glad i walked in here. now. so glad i walked in here.

otherwise i wouldn't be sitting here. if you haven't seen those pictures... yeah, if i hadn't seen the pictures of the bairns, i wouldn't be sitting with yous now. and ijust looked at them and i thought, "ee, god, i can't leave them bairns." your mum passed away before you heard... yeah. ..that you weren't going to be prosecuted. yeah. this is what it does to you. that was the hardest time. i've got her photograph next to where i sit, and i talk to them all the time. what do you say? i say, "i'm all right now, mam. everything's sorted. i'm all right now." she knows now. i'm gutted. i could have been still there now. still working. instead of being in this state all the time.

and i just feel sick as a dog. my stomach's going. i'm terrified in case i see any of my old customers, you know? but you have done nothing wrong. nothing. i know i haven't done nothing wrong. i should be all right to be here. and i'm not. you know, i'm not. shaky. feeling sick. i couldn't get out, though, and walk around here. nah. i would never come back again. should we go? yeah. let's go. that clapping is for you two. thank

ou. that clapping is for you two. thank you- thank — that clapping is for you two. thank you- thank you- — that clapping is for you two. thank you. thank you. thank _ that clapping is for you two. thank you. thank you. thank you - that clapping is for you two. thank you. thank you. thank you so - that clapping is for you two. thank| you. thank you. thank you so much for talkint you. thank you. thank you so much for talking to _ you. thank you. thank you so much for talking to us. _ you. thank you. thank you so much for talking to us. i _ you. thank you. thank you so much for talking to us. i know _ you. thank you. thank you so much for talking to us. i know it - you. thank you. thank you so much for talking to us. i know it was - you. thank you. thank you so much for talking to us. i know it was a - for talking to us. i know it was a tough decision to do it and i hope it wasn't too tough doing it. now you have done it and you have told your story to your friends, your family, to the country... how does that feel? ., ., family, to the country... how does that feel? ~' . . , , that feel? like a weight has been lifted off my _ that feel? like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. - that feel? like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. to - that feel? like a weight has been l lifted off my shoulders. to actually talk about it. i've kept everything locked away inside and not told anybody. ifeela locked away inside and not told anybody. ifeel a lot locked away inside and not told anybody. i feel a lot lighter. locked away inside and not told anybody. ifeel a lot lighter. and i have all these, as well! you know. but, no, ifeel much better. definitely better for talking about it and getting it out of the way. you know, i am it and getting it out of the way. you know, lam not it and getting it out of the way. you know, i am not ashamed now because people know i didn't do anything wrong. i can go out. because you didn't go out, you literally told me used to stay in

the back room downstairs and so people wouldn't even see you through the window at home.— the window at home. yeah, wouldn't to out the window at home. yeah, wouldn't go out nowhere. _ the window at home. yeah, wouldn't go out nowhere, wouldn't _ the window at home. yeah, wouldn't go out nowhere, wouldn't go - the window at home. yeah, wouldn't go out nowhere, wouldn't go to - the window at home. yeah, wouldn't go out nowhere, wouldn't go to the i go out nowhere, wouldn't go to the shops. the one time i did go to the shops. the one time i did go to the shops i bumped into an old customer, a young girl, and she went, eesh, what did you do with all the money? and i went, ee, i didn't do anything. and ijust walked away and i wouldn't go out at all, i wouldn't go out and shopping, wouldn't go around the corner, wouldn't go out for a walk, nothing. the only place i felt comfortable was at the caravan because nobody knew where i was, nobody knew us, and i could be myself and relax and i didn't want to come back home. i didn't want to be there. it was horrible. it was really horrible, the worst years of my life. that is life lost. with the kids, everything. theyjust don't know what they have done to people. they don't. they don't realise it.

there is no compassion in them, there is nothing. there isn't. not a thing. there is nothing. there isn't. not a thint. ,, . ., . ,, there is nothing. there isn't. not a thin._ ,, ., ., ., ~' there is nothing. there isn't. not a thint. ,, . ., . ,, thing. sharon, kevin, thank you so much for talking _ thing. sharon, kevin, thank you so much for talking to _ thing. sharon, kevin, thank you so much for talking to us _ thing. sharon, kevin, thank you so much for talking to us in _ thing. sharon, kevin, thank you so l much for talking to us in sunderland and for coming to fenny compton. fenny compton, because this is where, for these sub—postmasters, the fight to get us started. this is where the campaign began. alan bates brought them together thinking there was an issue, something that needed to be challenged. little did he know, 15 years ago, it still would not be fully resolved. it is still not be fully resolved. it is still not really sorted. this week, there will be a resumption of the public inquiry in london, where alan will be giving evidence. even in the last few days, there have been all sorts of headlines about tapes and leaks,

memos that have come to light. we will be putting questions to the minister in just will be putting questions to the minister injust a moment. here are some of the stories that have appeared in the last few days. the contents of this secret draft report were revealed exclusively by bbc news. the document was commissioned by the post office, and carried out by the consultants deloitte, before the alan bates case was heard at the high court. it shows that, by 2017, post office bosses were told that the money going missing at branches could have been caused by errors, or by remote tampering in the horizon it system supplied by fujitsu. it said fujitsu employees had the ability to amend or delete transactions entered by post office branch staff, that the system wouldn't flag up to a postmaster a change had been made, and that those changes could cause a shortfall in branch accounts. but, despite this, over the next two years, the post office kept arguing in court the postmasters themselves must have been to blame

for the losses. the post office spent £100 million of public money fighting the case, despite knowing its defence was untrue. the barrister who represented alan bates and his colleagues said the bbc�*s findings were "absolutely shocking". i don't think the case should have happened. it should have been settled. and it's a great shame some of the people have died since then, without having their names cleared. it's...tragic and very, very sad. in a statement, the post office said it was deeply sorry for the impact the scandal has had on people, and that the issues raised will be looked at in the next stage of the inquiry. fujitsu said it regards this matter with the utmost seriousness. more shocks in this ongoing scandal. the minister is here. i think i will

throw it open to all of you to begin asking some questions. keith, you have one to start with. i am asking some questions. keith, you have one to start with.— have one to start with. i am from the north, _ have one to start with. i am from the north, very — have one to start with. i am from the north, very close _ have one to start with. i am from the north, very close to - have one to start with. i am from the north, very close to where i the north, very close to where the minister lives. i speak for all the postmasters, notjust postmasters but the government. we want to know how comprehensive the inquiry will be into the people who have caused this. they knowingly, deliberately carried on and carried on. the tapes that have been revealed lately showed they knew the problems with horizon. they knew they had access to sub—postmasters accounts and were able to reinstate it. then they went on to spend hundreds of millions of pounds pushing it through the court. it was us that ended up paying for that. we really want to know these people will be brought to account and asked relevant questions and be

made accountable. flan and asked relevant questions and be made accountable. can i and asked relevant questions and be made accountable.— made accountable. can i first say, sor ? made accountable. can i first say, sorry? to — made accountable. can i first say, sorry? to everybody _ made accountable. can i first say, sorry? to everybody in _ made accountable. can i first say, sorry? to everybody in the - made accountable. can i first say, sorry? to everybody in the swim l made accountable. can i first say, i sorry? to everybody in the swim and thousands _ sorry? to everybody in the swim and thousands of— sorry? to everybody in the swim and thousands of people around the country — thousands of people around the country. some moving stories. decent lives wrecked through this. no amount— lives wrecked through this. no amount of money will put that right. we haven't— amount of money will put that right. we haven't compensated people quickly— we haven't compensated people quickly enough. we need to accelerate that. on quickly enough. we need to accelerate that.— quickly enough. we need to accelerate that. on the issue of potentially _ accelerate that. on the issue of potentially prosecuting - accelerate that. on the issue of potentially prosecuting peoplel accelerate that. on the issue of. potentially prosecuting people at the top who are responsible. compensate people and hold people to account _ compensate people and hold people to account. the inquiry is another thing _ account. the inquiry is another thing evidence. you see the result of the _ thing evidence. you see the result of the statutory inquiry. the metropolitan police is undertaking an investigation. the government does _ an investigation. the government does not — an investigation. the government does not do that, the police does that _ does not do that, the police does that the — does not do that, the police does that. the crown prosecution service. evidence _ that. the crown prosecution service. evidence has— that. the crown prosecution service. evidence has been established and people _ evidence has been established and people should be prosecuted. that is my view _

people should be prosecuted. that is my view. you and others i have spoken — my view. you and others i have spoken to — my view. you and others i have spoken to suddenly feel, people within— spoken to suddenly feel, people within the post office and possibly further _ within the post office and possibly further afield should go to jail. yes _ yes. applause that is quite a thing to say. applause that is tuite a thint to sa . ~ . that is quite a thing to say. we had to to that is quite a thing to say. we had to go through _ that is quite a thing to say. we had to go through a _ that is quite a thing to say. we had to go through a process. _ that is quite a thing to say. we had to go through a process. we - that is quite a thing to say. we had| to go through a process. we believe in the _ to go through a process. we believe in the rule _ to go through a process. we believe in the rule of law. lots of people in the rule of law. lots of people in this— in the rule of law. lots of people in this room _ in the rule of law. lots of people in this room have not had the benefit — in this room have not had the benefit of— in this room have not had the benefit of the rule of law. it has failed _ benefit of the rule of law. it has failed these people. we do believe in process — failed these people. we do believe in process. that is the country we are very— in process. that is the country we are very proud to live in. if the threshold _ are very proud to live in. if the threshold is met evidence is there. criminal— threshold is met evidence is there. criminal prosecutions can be undertaken. if those people are found _ undertaken. if those people are found guilty, as i say, i have no hesitation— found guilty, as i say, i have no hesitation in saying people should io hesitation in saying people should go to— hesitation in saying people should go to jail — hesitation in saying people should go to jail. the hesitation in saying people should to to 'ail. ., , , hesitation in saying people should toto'ail. ., , , , go to 'ail. the irony is people in this go to jail. the irony is people in this room _ go to jail. the irony is people in this room had _ go to jail. the irony is people in this room had been _ go to jail. the irony is people in this room had been to - go to jail. the irony is people in this room had been to jail- go to jail. the irony is people in this room had been to jail and l go to jail. the irony is people in l this room had been to jail and did nothing wrong.

this room had been to 'ail and did nothing wong-h nothing wrong. absolutely. unthinkable _ nothing wrong. absolutely. unthinkable what - nothing wrong. absolutely. l unthinkable what happened. nothing wrong. absolutely. - unthinkable what happened. not nothing wrong. absolutely. _ unthinkable what happened. not only the situation in the first place but the situation in the first place but the evidence that came to light. back— the evidence that came to light. back in— the evidence that came to light. back in 2001, the gypsy were in his own post _ back in 2001, the gypsy were in his own post office. he saw how the system — own post office. he saw how the system changed in front of his eyes without _ system changed in front of his eyes without anyone changing anything. we may be _ without anyone changing anything. we may be he _ without anyone changing anything. we may be he knew what when. if people are culpable, they should be held to account _ are culpable, they should be held to account. ., . . , ., . account. you have a question about compensation, _ account. you have a question about compensation, don't _ account. you have a question about compensation, don't you? - account. you have a question about compensation, don't you? not - compensation, don't you? not directly about _ compensation, don't you? ijrrit directly about compensation. i would like to thank you for the help and support you have given me. you have. you are one of the only ministers who have got a result for me so i would like to thank you. given everything you have had to date, whether the inquiry all the recent

news coverage, the drama, etc, do you truly believe the brand the post office can actually continue as it is? there are sub—postmasters stuck with that nasty word against their businesses today, trying to make a living. they have no chance because the ground is wrecked. it is not trustworthy. we do not trust it, the public does not trust it. do you think it may be an idea not to consider a rebrand? irate think it may be an idea not to consider a rebrand?— think it may be an idea not to consider a rebrand? we are very willint to consider a rebrand? we are very willing to help — consider a rebrand? we are very willing to help where _ consider a rebrand? we are very willing to help where things - consider a rebrand? we are very| willing to help where things have not happened quickly enough. at times— not happened quickly enough. at times that has not been the case. a pleasure _ times that has not been the case. a pleasure to — times that has not been the case. a pleasure to help. people have lost confidence in post office limited. my experience is post offices up and down _ my experience is post offices up and down the _ my experience is post offices up and down the country in communities are held in— down the country in communities are held in high— down the country in communities are held in high regard. i do think it is recoverable. we need to

compensate people, hold people to account _ compensate people, hold people to account. people love post offices. as a constituency mp, i know my colleagues — as a constituency mp, i know my colleagues around the country feel the same — colleagues around the country feel the same. whenever a post office closes. _ the same. whenever a post office closes, there is a strong feeling in the community. closes, there is a strong feeling in the community-— closes, there is a strong feeling in the community. when you see a post office... i the community. when you see a post office--- i am — the community. when you see a post office... i am physically _ the community. when you see a post office... i am physically sick. - the community. when you see a post office... i am physically sick. i- office... i am physically sick. i will not office... i am physically sick. i will rrot go _ office... i am physically sick. i will not go inside. _ office... i am physically sick. i will not go inside. i— office... i am physically sick. i will not go inside. i hate - office... i am physically sick. i will not go inside. i hate the l office... i am physically sick. i. will not go inside. i hate the look of the word, let alone a horrible red sign. the more i see it, next to the inquiry building there is a post office. it never goes away. to me, that brand is absolutely shameful and it needs to be removed from our high streets and rebranded. we need a community hub. applause we need people to be able to do their banking, we need the corner shop to survive, desperately. we

need a thriving business. what we do not need is that horrific name behind it. it has to be looked at again and got rid of. people have gone to prison. our children, the next generation, the generation after that we'll be carrying it forward. ., after that we'll be carrying it forward. . ,., ., after that we'll be carrying it forward. . ., . forward. can the government do that? of course. forward. can the government do that? of course- we — forward. can the government do that? of course. we can _ forward. can the government do that? of course. we can do _ forward. can the government do that? of course. we can do whatever- forward. can the government do that? of course. we can do whatever we - of course. we can do whatever we want, _ of course. we can do whatever we want. within— of course. we can do whatever we want, within reason. as well as fixing _ want, within reason. as well as fixing the — want, within reason. as well as fixing the problems of the past, we need to— fixing the problems of the past, we need to get the post office a feature, _ need to get the post office a feature, whatever it is.- need to get the post office a feature, whatever it is. that is essential- _ feature, whatever it is. that is essential. they _ feature, whatever it is. that is essential. they do _ feature, whatever it is. that is essential. they do serve - feature, whatever it is. that is essential. they do serve a - feature, whatever it is. that is l essential. they do serve a really important purpose. people are stuck with them, cannot sell them, cannot do anything, not earning a reasonable income. on their knees. they have this horrific umbrella of the post office above them and they cannot move on. that word cannot be

trusted. the drama, although it helped us tremendously, it highlighted just how awful the company is an band name must go. good morning, both of you. —— and that name must go. maybe just remind us of the impact all of this has had on your dad. ifelt; us of the impact all of this has had on your dad-— on your dad. my father's physical health is shattered. _ on your dad. my father's physical health is shattered. ever - on your dad. my father's physical health is shattered. ever since i on your dad. my father's physical| health is shattered. ever since his wrongful prosecution, his health almost instantly started to decline. his health over the years has got worse and worse. in the past 12 months, he has been hospitalised twice. one of my major concerns is will my father lived to see the day where he receives full compensation? given the complexity of his losses, it will take time. my main question to the minister is, thank you very much for the interim payment because

we really need that, thank you for that. but, the uplift of interim payment is conditional, based on a claim being submitted. given my father is quite a while away from a claim being submitted, what could be done for not only my father but other postmasters or post mistresses, whose health is very bad? ~ ., mistresses, whose health is very bad? , , bad? we need to simplify the trocess. bad? we need to simplify the process. that _ bad? we need to simplify the process. that is _ bad? we need to simplify the process. that is what - bad? we need to simplify the process. that is what we - bad? we need to simplify the| process. that is what we need bad? we need to simplify the . process. that is what we need to bad? we need to simplify the - process. that is what we need to do. if process. that is what we need to do. if you _ process. that is what we need to do. if you have _ process. that is what we need to do. if you have had a conviction, you can go— if you have had a conviction, you can go down— if you have had a conviction, you can go down two roots. the fix and reward. _ can go down two roots. the fix and reward, which are kept pretty much immediately. the full assessment route _ immediately. the full assessment route takes more time. we need to make _ route takes more time. we need to make that — route takes more time. we need to make that as streamlined as possible. we are looking at setting aside _ possible. we are looking at setting aside the _ possible. we are looking at setting aside the need for forensic accountancy and detailed medical assessments. that is what takes the time _ assessments. that is what takes the time that _ assessments. that is what takes the time that is — assessments. that is what takes the time. that is how you fix it. when

you have — time. that is how you fix it. when you have submitted a claim, you get the intermediate compensation of £450 _ the intermediate compensation of £450. there are steps forward. it is not as— £450. there are steps forward. it is not as quick— £450. there are steps forward. it is not as quick as we would like it to be. not as quick as we would like it to be at _ not as quick as we would like it to be at the — not as quick as we would like it to be. at the moment, we have an adversarial— be. at the moment, we have an adversarial process. two lawyers fighting — adversarial process. two lawyers fighting each other, never a quick process~ — fighting each other, never a quick process it— fighting each other, never a quick trocess. �* , ., , fighting each other, never a quick trocess. . , . , .«r ., fighting each other, never a quick trocess. . , . , ., , . process. a sharp intake of breath. we need to _ process. a sharp intake of breath. we need to take _ process. a sharp intake of breath. we need to take some _ process. a sharp intake of breath. we need to take some of- process. a sharp intake of breath. we need to take some of that - process. a sharp intake of breath. | we need to take some of that away and make _ we need to take some of that away and make it a common—sense approach. hopefully— and make it a common—sense approach. hopefully you _ and make it a common—sense approach. hopefully you will see the speed of compensation accelerating in the next few— compensation accelerating in the next few weeks and months. does it tive ou next few weeks and months. does it give you confidence? _ next few weeks and months. does it give you confidence? somewhat - next few weeks and months. does it i give you confidence? somewhat meet es. i am give you confidence? somewhat meet yes- i am sure — give you confidence? somewhat meet yes. i am sure they _ give you confidence? somewhat meet yes. i am sure they have _ give you confidence? somewhat meet yes. i am sure they have a _ give you confidence? somewhat meet yes. i am sure they have a hefty - yes. i am sure they have a hefty task to do and they are looking at shortening the processes and what have you. they are looking after three schemes and trying to fit in everyone to satisfaction. it cannot be easy. for us, life is slipping

away. i have spent now 27 years in the post office. including my 13 years after convictions. it feels like my life has been wasted. i come from the heritage of postmasters going back generations. it was very much in our heritage. difficult to know how trusted arm of the state got so much out of hand and there was no accountability nor oversight from anyone on the board of these, or the treasury, or select committees. or cabin at head office. i am sure the prime ministers of the day knew what was going on. huge industrious —— injustices have been

going on. it feels like a stab in the back for the people serving the nation on behalf of the government, it is not the reward we expected. i understand you feel sympathetic to the cause. you have pushed this a long way from the beginnings and i am thankfulfor that. it long way from the beginnings and i am thankful for that. it will take some while to make everyone happy because the stigma and the hat is never going to go away. for me and many others, the health is not going to go away. to improve the —— the post office brand will take a lot of work. he post office brand will take a lot of work. ., , ., . , work. he thought you had spotted somethint work. he thought you had spotted something going _ work. he thought you had spotted something going wrong _ work. he thought you had spotted something going wrong with - work. he thought you had spotted something going wrong with the l something going wrong with the computer system ages ago. in something going wrong with the computer system ages ago. in 2001. i troved in computer system ages ago. in 2001. i proved in front — computer system ages ago. in 2001. i proved in front of _ computer system ages ago. in 2001. i proved in front of post _ computer system ages ago. in 2001. i proved in front of post office - computer system ages ago. in 2001. i proved in front of post office and - proved in front of post office and fujitsu _ proved in front of post office and fujitsu manages that the system was faulty— fujitsu manages that the system was faulty and _ fujitsu manages that the system was faulty and they did not have remote

access— faulty and they did not have remote access to _ faulty and they did not have remote access to the accounts of postmasters. my question to you, do you think— postmasters. my question to you, do you think that evidence of that meeting — you think that evidence of that meeting was deliberately suppressed? i meeting was deliberately suppressed? i cannot— meeting was deliberately suppressed? i cannot say it was deliberately suppressed because i was not party to conversations afterwards. someone knew something at a very early stage. the incredible court case that was taken forward. evidence came that information was known. what we need to establish who knew what when. it is my view had that evidence — what when. it is my view had that evidence been acted upon, we would not be _ evidence been acted upon, we would not be sitting here today. absolutely. 15 wasted years. in your case, 23 wasted years. all of these prosecutions could and should have been stopped. we need to find out who knew what and hold all of those people to account. i who knew what and hold all of those people to account.—

people to account. i had a contact in the met — people to account. i had a contact in the met police _ people to account. i had a contact in the met police made _ people to account. i had a contact in the met police made a - people to account. i had a contact in the met police made a formal l in the met police made a formal complaint — in the met police made a formal complaint that these people should be held _ complaint that these people should be held accountable.— complaint that these people should be held accountable. there have been 20 post office — be held accountable. there have been 20 post office ministers _ be held accountable. there have been 20 post office ministers since - be held accountable. there have been 20 post office ministers since then. i 20 post office ministers since then. is that part of the problem? there has not been enough consistency. tats has not been enough consistency. as a minister, it is tough. you get a lot of— a minister, it is tough. you get a lot of things _ a minister, it is tough. you get a lot of things coming on your desk. i cannot— lot of things coming on your desk. i cannot speak for previous ministers. we should _ cannot speak for previous ministers. we should all apologise for where we are, for— we should all apologise for where we are, for what happened. we'll make mistakes, _ are, for what happened. we'll make mistakes, we should all have seen things— mistakes, we should all have seen things more quickly and acted more quickly _ things more quickly and acted more quickly we — things more quickly and acted more quickly. we cannot do anything about it. compensating people as quickly as possible. nobody can make up for what happened to people's lives. we can compensate people and their families— can compensate people and their families and hold people to account. that is— families and hold people to account. that is what ten wants to ask you about. ~ ., , that is what ten wants to ask you about. a , ., , that is what ten wants to ask you about. a, , ., , ., that is what ten wants to ask you about. , ., , ., , about. many of us go back in this room to 20 _ about. many of us go back in this room to 20 years _ about. many of us go back in this room to 20 years ago. _ about. many of us go back in this room to 20 years ago. i - about. many of us go back in this room to 20 years ago. i was - about. many of us go back in this i

room to 20 years ago. i was talking last night and the point was made we had to build our cases when we were part of the mediation scheme. we had to rebuild our cases a second time for the diallo and now for the first time we are having to build our cases to claim compensation. some of the people with the most complex cases have suffered greatly. mostly materialistic league and are. those are the people having to wait the longest to make their claim. when the political will is there, things move quickly. we were told everything had to go through the courts. following the outcry from the drama, the government move very quickly to quash everything. why can't the government moved quickly with the will to compensate people fully? why are we having to wait so long? fully? why are we having to wait so lont ? ~ ., fully? why are we having to wait so lon. ? . ., , ., fully? why are we having to wait so lont? . ,~ ., , long? what they are doing in terms of overturning _ long? what they are doing in terms

of overturning convictions, - long? what they are doing in terms of overturning convictions, around | of overturning convictions, around 800 convictions that were prosecuted by the _ 800 convictions that were prosecuted by the post office and the crown prosecution service, over 100 have had convictions overturned. because it takes— had convictions overturned. because it takes time, we have decided to legislate — it takes time, we have decided to legislate to set aside all of those convictions. that will be done by july and — convictions. that will be done by july and that opens the door for compensation more rapidly. then you io compensation more rapidly. then you -o to compensation more rapidly. then you go to detailed assessment, like you are. go to detailed assessment, like you are that— go to detailed assessment, like you are. that does take time. the cases we have _ are. that does take time. the cases we have over— are. that does take time. the cases we have over ten so far, only 49 claims _ we have over ten so far, only 49 claims have _ we have over ten so far, only 49 claims have been submitted. around 40 of— claims have been submitted. around 40 of those — claims have been submitted. around 40 of those have been settled. getting — 40 of those have been settled. getting the claim in, we can help to pay legal— getting the claim in, we can help to pay legal fees. getting the claim in, we can help to pay legalfees. it getting the claim in, we can help to pay legal fees. it does take time. we do _ pay legal fees. it does take time. we do not — pay legal fees. it does take time. we do not have total control of the process _ we do not have total control of the process. detailed examination of the financial— process. detailed examination of the financial impact on the health impacts, _ financial impact on the health impacts, for example, the reputation, it takes time to assess.

your— reputation, it takes time to assess. your legal— reputation, it takes time to assess. your legal representatives to assess that. your legal representatives to assess that that _ your legal representatives to assess that. that takes time. we are working — that. that takes time. we are working as rapidly as possible to try to _ working as rapidly as possible to try to come back with offers. that is too _ try to come back with offers. that is too slow — try to come back with offers. that is too slow as well. we are keen to accelerate — is too slow as well. we are keen to accelerate that. it takes more time than we _ accelerate that. it takes more time than we would like. we are keen to ensure _ than we would like. we are keen to ensure it _ than we would like. we are keen to ensure it takes less time. that than we would like. we are keen to ensure it takes less time.— ensure it takes less time. that is what worries _ ensure it takes less time. that is what worries me. _ ensure it takes less time. that is what worries me. i _ ensure it takes less time. that is what worries me. i hear - ensure it takes less time. that is what worries me. i hear from - ensure it takes less time. that is i what worries me. i hear from people what worries me. i hearfrom people ahead of me in the schemes with planes who have waited 12, 18 months to get anywhere near negotiating. tbs, to get anywhere near negotiating. a lot of eyes rolling as you use the word rapidly. anyone in the audience, any sub—postmasters or family who have a question? my claim, family who have a question? iji claim, when family who have a question? ij�*i claim, when it family who have a question? ii1: claim, when it was family who have a question? ii1 claim, when it was submitted, it took almost three years. that is just bonkers. 50 took almost three years. that is just bonkers-—

took almost three years. that is just bonkers. took almost three years. that is 'ust bonkers. ., . , just bonkers. so long. i am sorry it has taken that _ just bonkers. so long. i am sorry it has taken that long. _ just bonkers. so long. i am sorry it has taken that long. it _ just bonkers. so long. i am sorry it has taken that long. it is _ just bonkers. so long. i am sorry it has taken that long. it is more - has taken that long. it is more rapid _ has taken that long. it is more rapid now _ has taken that long. it is more rapid now. on the glo scheme, over 120 claims— rapid now. on the glo scheme, over 120 claims have been settled. the small. _ 120 claims have been settled. the small, straightforward ones. i want to try— small, straightforward ones. i want to try to— small, straightforward ones. i want to try to reduce some of the legal arguments around the claim, which is where _ arguments around the claim, which is where time _ arguments around the claim, which is where time tends to be taken. we are trying _ where time tends to be taken. we are trying to— where time tends to be taken. we are trying to strip that down. we are working — trying to strip that down. we are working with lawyers representing victims _ working with lawyers representing victims across the piece to try to simplify— victims across the piece to try to simplify the process and make it more _ simplify the process and make it more rapid. simplify the process and make it more rapid-— simplify the process and make it more raid. ,, ., �* . ., more rapid. shouldn't you have done that sooner? — more rapid. shouldn't you have done that sooner? of _ more rapid. shouldn't you have done that sooner? of course _ more rapid. shouldn't you have done that sooner? of course we _ more rapid. shouldn't you have done that sooner? of course we shed. - more rapid. shouldn't you have donej that sooner? of course we shed. the introduction — that sooner? of course we shed. the introduction of _ that sooner? of course we shed. the introduction of the _ that sooner? of course we shed. the introduction of the fix _ that sooner? of course we shed. the introduction of the fix than _ that sooner? of course we shed. the introduction of the fix than awards i introduction of the fix than awards means— introduction of the fix than awards means people get compensation more quickly _ means people get compensation more quickly. the simpler cases, the lower— quickly. the simpler cases, the lower value claims.—

quickly. the simpler cases, the lower value claims. there are about 400 people — lower value claims. there are about 400 people left- — lower value claims. there are about 400 people left. it _ lower value claims. there are about 400 people left. it takes _ lower value claims. there are about 400 people left. it takes people - lower value claims. there are about| 400 people left. it takes people out ofthe 400 people left. it takes people out of the queue — 400 people left. it takes people out of the queue for _ 400 people left. it takes people out of the queue for more _ 400 people left. it takes people out of the queue for more detailed - of the queue for more detailed assessments.— of the queue for more detailed assessments. . ,, , ., , . assessments. thank you very much indeed. somebody _ assessments. thank you very much indeed. somebody right _ assessments. thank you very much indeed. somebody right at - assessments. thank you very much indeed. somebody right at the - assessments. thank you very much l indeed. somebody right at the back, who is there? lee indeed. somebody right at the back, who is there?— who is there? lee castleman. over the whole period, _ who is there? lee castleman. over the whole period, we _ who is there? lee castleman. over the whole period, we are _ who is there? lee castleman. over the whole period, we are currently| the whole period, we are currently looking at spending £2 the whole period, we are currently looking at spending e2 in legal fees for every £2 looking at spending e2 in legal fees for every e2 in compensation. it is adversarial. people are talking about us sitting in these meetings having to go through the criminal investigation, almost. having been through decriminalisation in the first place and having a overturned, now having to go through every single t and i, and going through everything from years ago. why is it ripe for the taxpayer? you are giving the wrong people the money to defend the position you are

currently in whilst we still suffer. all of these people in this room are still suffering as victims. applause we have talked about this in the past _ we have talked about this in the past. lawyers are a fact of life. we accept _ past. lawyers are a fact of life. we accept that — past. lawyers are a fact of life. we accept that. they have an important role to _ accept that. they have an important role to play. — accept that. they have an important role to play, of course. we are keen to try _ role to play, of course. we are keen to try to _ role to play, of course. we are keen to try to reduce the amount of legal argument _ to try to reduce the amount of legal argument over these processes. that should _ argument over these processes. that should be _ argument over these processes. that should be a _ argument over these processes. that should be a common—sense view. i have _ should be a common—sense view. i have heard — should be a common—sense view. i have heard people telling me about the ridiculous needs to improve the cost per— the ridiculous needs to improve the cost per mile between where she was and where _ cost per mile between where she was and where she went to, to support her claim — and where she went to, to support her claim. that kind of nonsense we do not _ her claim. that kind of nonsense we do not need — her claim. that kind of nonsense we do not need. we need to simplify the process— do not need. we need to simplify the process and _ do not need. we need to simplify the process and take a common—sense view _ process and take a common—sense view i_ process and take a common—sense view i said — process and take a common—sense view. i said to officials and legal representatives, if it looks right

and it— representatives, if it looks right and it is— representatives, if it looks right and it is right, settle it. that is what _ and it is right, settle it. that is what we — and it is right, settle it. that is what we need to do.— and it is right, settle it. that is what we need to do. we what we need to do. anyone else? we have evidence- — what we need to do. anyone else? we have evidence. why _ what we need to do. anyone else? we have evidence. why are _ what we need to do. anyone else? we have evidence. why are these - what we need to do. anyone else? we have evidence. why are these people | have evidence. why are these people roaming around freely? why can't they go behind bars? what are you waiting for them? to run away? hiding behind something? for me, these people _ hiding behind something? for me, these people should _ hiding behind something? for me, these people should be _ hiding behind something? for me, | these people should be prosecuted. it is these people should be prosecuted. it is not _ these people should be prosecuted. it is not something the government does _ it is not something the government does there — it is not something the government does. there are courts and legal processes — does. there are courts and legal processes. as soon as they feel they have enough evidence to prosecute somebody, we would all welcome that. they are _ somebody, we would all welcome that. they are not _ somebody, we would all welcome that. they are not waiting for us. the metropolitan police said recently, there _ metropolitan police said recently, there were 53,000 documents. there has to— there were 53,000 documents. there has to be _ there were 53,000 documents. there has to be a _ there were 53,000 documents. there has to be a process that is gone through — has to be a process that is gone through. we believe in the rule of law. through. we believe in the rule of law i_ through. we believe in the rule of law i am — through. we believe in the rule of law. i am sorry it hasn't worked for

you in— law. i am sorry it hasn't worked for you in the — law. i am sorry it hasn't worked for you in the past. we are keen to make sure people _ you in the past. we are keen to make sure people are held to account properly — sure people are held to account properly. that means you can make conviction _ properly. that means you can make conviction stick when you get into court _ conviction stick when you get into court i_ conviction stick when you get into court. ., conviction stick when you get into court. ,, , ., . conviction stick when you get into court. ,, i. . ,., ., court. i think you have something to tell us and to _ court. i think you have something to tell us and to show _ court. i think you have something to tell us and to show us _ court. i think you have something to tell us and to show us as _ court. i think you have something to tell us and to show us as well. - court. i think you have something to tell us and to show us as well. this. tell us and to show us as well. this is a photograph _ tell us and to show us as well. ti 3 is a photograph of my husband. he was 39 years old when he died. two months after being suspended from the post office. a healthy man, just died. medical records do not go that far. we cannot prove what happened to him at the time. he was a healthy man. he felt very ashamed of what happened and within two months, he was dead. after that i became postmistress and the same sort of thing started to happen to me. a criminal conviction go nearly sent to prison. i was told by my solicitor to pack a suitcase because i could go to prison that day. i was

terrified. the trauma still stays with me, giving me long term trauma, mental issues. with me, giving me long term trauma, mental issues-— mental issues. what would you like the minister — mental issues. what would you like the minister to _ mental issues. what would you like the minister to be _ mental issues. what would you like the minister to be able _ mental issues. what would you like the minister to be able to _ mental issues. what would you like the minister to be able to tell- mental issues. what would you like the minister to be able to tell you l the minister to be able to tell you today? you have yourfamily the minister to be able to tell you today? you have your family with you as well. i today? you have your family with you as well. ., , today? you have your family with you as well. . , ., , , as well. i have my family, my sopport- _ as well. i have my family, my sopport- we _ as well. i have my family, my support. we would _ as well. i have my family, my support. we would like - as well. i have my family, my support. we would like to - as well. i have my family, my l support. we would like to know as well. i have my family, my - support. we would like to know why ou can support. we would like to know why you can only — support. we would like to know why you can only have — support. we would like to know why you can only have one _ support. we would like to know why you can only have one claim? - support. we would like to know why you can only have one claim? my i you can only have one claim? my father— you can only have one claim? my father passed away over 20 years ago _ father passed away over 20 years ago he _ father passed away over 20 years ago. he was 39 years old, a sub—postmaster. later on, my mother had tom _ sub—postmaster. later on, my mother had tom she — sub—postmaster. later on, my mother had to... she was wrongfully convicted _ had to... she was wrongfully convicted. we would like to know why you are _ convicted. we would like to know why you are only— convicted. we would like to know why you are only able to have one claim. for one _ you are only able to have one claim. for one business. that is what we have been told. i for one business. that is what we have been told.— have been told. i am very sorry ha- ten have been told. i am very sorry happen to _ have been told. i am very sorry happen to you _ have been told. i am very sorry happen to you and _ have been told. i am very sorry happen to you and your - have been told. i am very sorry happen to you and your family. j have been told. i am very sorry - happen to you and your family. the assessment— happen to you and your family. the assessment of loss should be about

how it _ assessment of loss should be about how it affected the entire family. if it how it affected the entire family. if it is _ how it affected the entire family. if it is not — how it affected the entire family. if it is not working for you, i am happy— if it is not working for you, i am happy to— if it is not working for you, i am happy to look at it to make sure you are being _ happy to look at it to make sure you are being fairly compensated. it should — are being fairly compensated. it should reflect all of your losses. i am terribly — should reflect all of your losses. i am terribly sorry to hear. i am traumatised. _ am terribly sorry to hear. i am traumatised. we _ am terribly sorry to hear. i am traumatised. we worked - am terribly sorry to hear. i am traumatised. we worked very| am terribly sorry to hear. i am - traumatised. we worked very closely with the compensation _ traumatised. we worked very closely with the compensation advisory - with the compensation advisory board — with the compensation advisory board. evidence will be given this week— board. evidence will be given this week into — board. evidence will be given this week into the inquiry. that board. evidence will be given this week into the inquiry.— week into the inquiry. that is the mp suoporting — week into the inquiry. that is the mp suoporting me _ week into the inquiry. that is the - mp supporting me sub-postmasters. up mp supporting me sub—postmasters. up they recommended we provide mental health— they recommended we provide mental health support for families. that is something — health support for families. that is something we are looking at doing. hopefully_ something we are looking at doing. hopefully an announcement are looking — hopefully an announcement are looking at doing.— looking at doing. hopefully an announcement _ looking at doing. hopefully an announcement on _ looking at doing. hopefully an announcement on that - looking at doing. hopefully an | announcement on that shortly. looking at doing. hopefully an - announcement on that shortly. on the issue, do you feel you have support you and your family for mental health counselling? has that been offered? irate health counselling? has that been offered? ~ ., ., offered? we thought we were to get extra money — offered? we thought we were to get extra money for— offered? we thought we were to get extra money for therapy. _ offered? we thought we were to get extra money for therapy. now - offered? we thought we were to get extra money for therapy. now we i offered? we thought we were to get i extra money for therapy. now we have been told that money will not be

coming out of compensation, it will not be extra money for us. toll coming out of compensation, it will not be extra money for us. you had to a- -l not be extra money for us. you had to apply for — not be extra money for us. you had to apply for it- _ not be extra money for us. you had to apply for it- we _ not be extra money for us. you had to apply for it. we had _ not be extra money for us. you had to apply for it. we had to _ not be extra money for us. you had to apply for it. we had to go - to apply for it. we had to go trivate to apply for it. we had to go private to — to apply for it. we had to go private to get _ to apply for it. we had to go private to get the _ to apply for it. we had to go private to get the best - to apply for it. we had to go - private to get the best treatment. they are saying there are so many things, trauma and everything that has gone on over the years. i did not have time to grieve for my husband. straightaway, iwas not have time to grieve for my husband. straightaway, i was having all these problems from the post office. it was terrible. going really early in the morning till 11 o'clock at night trying to balance everything. my four children had to go to college and school, a very difficult time. tbs, go to college and school, a very difficult time.— difficult time. a very difficult time. still — difficult time. a very difficult time. still is. _ difficult time. a very difficult time. still is. so _ difficult time. a very difficult time. still is. so many - difficult time. a very difficultl time. still is. so many stories difficult time. a very difficult - time. still is. so many stories like that. well, _ time. still is. so many stories like that. well, not _ time. still is. so many stories like that. well, not like _ time. still is. so many stories like that. well, not like that, - time. still is. so many stories like that. well, not like that, every i that. well, not like that, every story is completely different, isn't it? so many heartbreaking, complex, difficult stories every single person has experienced something

like that, or knows somebody who has. we are coming to you live this morning, this special edition of bbc breakfast from fenny compton, when the first meeting took place of sub—postmasters 15 years ago. as we have been hearing, that fight goes on 15 years later and this programme continues as well. we are continuing this debate in the village hall with the minister. thank you forjoining us.

live from london. this is bbc news. palestinians start moving back into khan younis. israel says it's withdrawn nearly all ground troops from the gazan city in preparation for its next offensive. the un's atomic watchdog warns a new drone attack on ukraine's zaporizhzhia power plant raises the risk of a "major nuclear accident." the next phase of the post office horizon public inquiry begins this week, with former subpostmaster alan bates first up in the witness chair. millions of people are gearing up for a total solar eclipse, which will plunge parts of north america into darkness.

welcome to bbc news. we start in the middle east, where israel appears to be moving to a new phase of its military operation in gaza. displaced people from the southern gazan city of khan younis have started to return home, after the israel defence forces said they have withdrawn all of their maneuvering ground forces from that area — leaving just one brigade. israel's defence minister yoav gallant said troops have been pulled out to prepare for future missions, including into the now overcrowded city of rafah. much of khan younis is now in ruins after months of bombardment and heavy conflict between israeli troops and fighters from palestinian militant groups. sunday marked six months since hamas, designated a terrorist organisation by the us, uk and other countries, attacked israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.

israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, vowed to "crush