alan bates was the first to i a war. alan bates was the first to a- ear. a war.an bates was the first to appear- today. he _ a war. alan bates was the first to appear. today, he says _ a war. alan bates was the first to appear. today, he says he - a war. alan bates was the first to appear. today, he says he hopes| a war. alan bates was the first to - appear. today, he says he hopes the public outcry would light a fire to finally bring justice to those who have suffered for so long. a clean—up operation for communities is underway across parts of england this morning after days of heavy rainfall led to more than 1,000 homes and businesses being flooded. more than 200 flood warnings remain in place, mostly in the midlands, east anglia and the south. a teenage boy has been charged with the murder of the 16—year—old harry pitman, who was stabbed to death in primrose hill in north london on new year's eve. the teenager, who's 15, has also been charged with the possession of an offensive weapon. let's go to bangladesh now — where prime minister sheikh hasina seems almo

you mentioned alan bates there, lease not. you mentioned alan bates there, please remind — not. please remind the _ not. you mentioned alan bates there, please remind the viewers _ not. you mentioned alan bates there, please remind the viewers of - not. you mentioned alan bates there, please remind the viewers of his - please remind the viewers of his story because he is pivotal to this, the one who fought so hard for years to getjustice for the one who fought so hard for years to get justice for the the one who fought so hard for years to getjustice for the victims. b, to getjustice for the victims. number of people fought hard, he is part of what we like to think of of a curiously british avengers ensemble but he is not a person to pick a fight with him, really, he is brilliant and stubborn and determined and honest and inspirational and there picked a fight with the wrong guy. that is what ou fight with the wrong guy. that is what you need — fight with the wrong guy. that is what you need for _ fight with the wrong guy. that is what you need for something . fight with the wro

what do i you think, alan bates?eks? there have been, and --eole the next few weeks? there have been, and people had — the next few weeks? there have been, and people had been _ the next few weeks? there have been, and people had been contacting - and people had been contacting government, contacting mps. and some of the lawyers involved. i have been hearing from one or two as well. but it's very positive, what has happened here. it is something that has been seething underneath the surface for quite a while and i think the drama has really exposed it now to the nation.— it now to the nation. thank you both ve much it now to the nation. thank you both very much indeed. _ it now to the nation. thank you both very much indeed. paul— it now to the nation. thank you both very much indeed. paul scully i very much indeed. paul scully was ministerfor postal very much indeed. paul scully was minister for postal affairs between 2020 and 2022 and he joins minister for postal affairs between 2020 and 2022 and hejoins me now. th

why didn'tl he meet with alan bates then? i am not sure what _ he meet with alan bates then? _ he meet with alan bates then? i am not sure what he did or— he meet with alan bates then? i —n not sure what he did or did not but... , ., but... he refused a meeting initially and _ but... he refused a meeting initially and said _ but... he refused a meeting initially and said a _ but... he refused a meeting initially and said a meeting. but... he refused a meeting - initially and said a meeting would serve no useful purpose. ed has said very clearly today that he feels he was deeply misled by post office buses, as were indeed ministers of every party. wow, so he is trying to divert and blame others, he was a minister, he could meet anyone. i think what we are seen as a huge miscarriage ofjustice and that's why there's now an inquiry looking into what happened. what really matters today is that the inquiry can move at pace without the post office refusing to provide or delay in providing evidence, and the conservative government have got to sort out the financial recompense and red

alan bates was told it was _ scheme exploded. alan bates was told it was to _ scheme exploded. fired? i don't know. why do you think? would _ were you fired? i don't know. why do you think? would have _ were you fired? i don't know. why do you think? would have to _ were you fired? i don't know. why do you think? would have to ask- were you fired? i don't know. why do you think? would have to ask the - you think? would have to ask the post office- _ you think? would have to ask the post office. it — you think? would have to ask the post office. it was _ post office. it was coincidental that shortly before the plug was pulled _ that shortly before the plug was pulled on the mediation scheme, my colleague _ pulled on the mediation scheme, my colleague and i had been trying to pick up _ colleague and i had been trying to pick up from where we left off prior to the _ pick up from where we left off prior to the mediation scheme, which is to look deeply— to the mediation scheme, which is to look deeply into matters like the suspense — look deeply into matters like the suspense accoun

group, and _ alan bates got together a little group, and then— alan bates got together a little groupwas one of the _ group, and then i think it was one of the villagers _ group, and then i think it was one of the villagers brought _ group, and then i think it was one of the villagers brought in - group, and then i think it was one of the villagers brought in this - of the villagers brought in this paper— of the villagers brought in this paper work— of the villagers brought in this paper work and _ of the villagers brought in this paper work and said, - of the villagers brought in this paper work and said, tracy, . of the villagers brought in this - paper work and said, tracy, there are others— paper work and said, tracy, there are others of— paper work and said, tracy, there are others of you _ paper work and said, tracy, there are others of you out _ paper work and said, tracy, there are others of you out there. - paper work and said, tracy, there i are others of you out there. because you are _ are others of you out there. because you are in _ are others of you out there. because y

so that is the reaction from alan bates.es was obviously part of the itv drama that was brought into the headlines in the last week and, of course, got to the government to act today. as we have been saying, more than 700 post office branch managers saying, were given criminal convictions — and only 93 of those convictions have been overturned by the courts. a fraction of those affected by the scandal, some of whom have never spoken publicly before — appeared on bbc breakfast this morning. frances reed has their stories. the people who run them are pillars of the community, trusted in every village and town. what they were accused of, they say, ruined their lives. the numbers affected, shocking. hundreds of wrongful convictions with imprisonments, bankruptcies and even people taking their own lives. so we're going to ask each individual to tell that story. the bbc spoke to a handful of victims today, including those who were told to plead guilty to avoid jail time. frankly, it wrecked my life, my family's life, and everybody

and give to alan bates. give it to alan bates. >> quite right. us >> yeah. quite right.ghts. this morning. vaiews@gbnews.com. now at least 60 tory mps have backed amendments to toughen the rwanda bill legislation , which is going bill legislation, which is going to be debated this afternoon . to be debated this afternoon. >> well, let's go to chris hope. can guide us through this minefield , which chris minefield, which is what chris rishi sunak the prime minister, is negotiate . chris, is trying to negotiate. chris, you've got, on one hand, you've got, on the one hand, tory like, um, mark francois tory mps like, um, mark francois , who's regularly on this program, and leigh anderson, who we spoke to earlier, um, who's of course, of this parish who want it to be tougher, they want to keep the european judges noses firmly this. they noses firmly out of this. they want to limit the right of appeal. and then you've got mps on the other side. like on the other side. people like robert buckland, law robert buckland, a former law chancellor, who , alarmed at the chancellor, wh

we are also hearing from alan bates, the | also hearing from alan bates, the man at the centre of thet up the justice for sub postmasters alliance, which incorporates all of those who have been wrongly convicted. what time does he strike now, what is it he is looking for? he does he strike now, what is it he is looking for?— looking for? he is defiant. he led the original— looking for? he is defiant. he led the original legal— looking for? he is defiant. he led the original legal action - looking for? he is defiant. he led the original legal action against l the original legal action against the original legal action against the post office. his story is huge. a lot of interest to so many people. it led to the popular itv drama aired at the beginning of this year. he took the post office, he launched that original legal action and he is as keen as everyone else, he and the other sub postmasters and mistresses are keen to hear what fujitsu have to say. nick wallis, the author of that book i mentioned, in his view, fujitsu have been very quiet. a huge corporation, huge company have been

alan bates and hundreds office.oping that finallyjustice for the sub postmasters might be getting closer. chris mason, bbc news. new court documents regarding late sex offender jeffrey epstein have been released. it mentions alleged sex tapes filmed by epstein of prince andrew, bill clinton, and sir richard branson. the three of them have denied any wrongdoing, and the person who made the allegations later said she wanted to withdraw them. the claims were included in hundreds of documents that a usjudge has ordered to be unsealed — as part of a civil claim by prince andrew's accuser — virginia giuffre — against ghislaine maxwell, which was filed in 2015 and settled in 2017. 0ur north america correspondent nada tawfik has more. a new batch of court documents have been released, this time in relation to a woman named sarah ransom, who herself settled a civil lawsuit with epstein and maxwell in 2018 for an undisclosed amount. sarah ransom says she was abused and recruited into epstein's sex trafficking ring in 2006 whe

suppose postmaster alan bates.to overturn convictions and deliver compensation. the fujitsu boss has apologised, saying his company has a moral obligation to contribute to compensation and more than 300 fujitsu employees have announced they'll take strike action from tomorrow in their dispute over pay . in their dispute over pay. members of the public and commercial services union will walk out in the midlands for a day, followed by further action next month, the union saying employees have been offered a pay employees have been offered a pay rise of between 3 and 4, which it says is ten times less than their counterparts are paid in japan. those are the top stories. more detail on all of them by heading to our website, gbnews.com . gbnews.com. >> maggie. polly. now let's get more on the governments controversial rwanda bill. been debated. now, as we speak more than mps are than 60 conservative mps are backing amendments to that bill. i'm joined now in our westminster studio by steve mccabe, labour mp for birmingha

subpostmaster alan bates.oking at the appeal processes in place to help overturn convictions and to deliver fair and timely compensation for victims . a mass compensation for victims. a mass meeting of tory mps on the conservative right has been called for this evening, ahead of the rwanda bill vote number 10 says the rwanda plan is the missing piece to the government's approach to stopping the boats. lee anderson and brendan clarke—smith are among more than 60 tory mps who are backing moves to toughen up the flagship migration policy, rebelling mps fear courts will be overwhelmed with appeals from asylum seekers earmarked to be deported, although the prime minister promises to allocate over 100 judges to these cases . over 100 judges to these cases. >> i mean , there is no reason at >> i mean, there is no reason at all why full financial redress shouldn't have been delivered by now. it's gone on for far too long. people are suffering. they've been they're dying. we're losing numbers along the way. and it's ju

reporter: this is alan bates. 24 years ago he raised an issue with the computer system at the post officein north wales. a quarter of a century on, toby jones is playing him in a television drama. >> we are all here to share our experiences. reporter: mr. bates led a campaign to ensure hudgins -- hundreds of sub-postmasters get exonerated, having been wrongly convicted of theft and fraud, some even jailed. now he finds himself the central character in a hit series. >> the last couple of weeks have been absolutely bananas, i think it is fair to say. it is one thing after another. i have not been able to put the phone down. it has been great in some ways. a huge amount of support for the victims in all of this. reporter: at the heart of this scandal is the horizon computer system developed by a japanese company fujitsu. but this is about so much more than a disastrous i.t. scheme. >> it doubled right in front of my eyes. now it says i am 4000 pounds down. reporter: it is about repetition's trashed, savings drained, suicides, allegations of a corporate cover-up, lying, and an absence of acco

bates . post office victims, alan bates.ons are set to hit the uk, with some areas still trying to recover from floods . an amber cold health floods. an amber cold health alert has been issued for parts of england , with sleet and snow of england, with sleet and snow forecast . the met office has forecast. the met office has also issued yellow warnings for ice, with the cold snap set to continue throughout the week . continue throughout the week. more than 160 flood warnings remain in place across the country, and over 1800 properties have been damaged after meeting with flooding victims in oxford yesterday, rishi sunak tried to defend his record, saying the government has invested £5.2 billion in flood defences as labour has accused the government of being asleep at the wheel over flood warnings . asleep at the wheel over flood warnings. mps will debate the offshore petroleum bill later as parliament returns for the first time this year. if it passes the legislation will mandate that licences for oil and gas projects in the

bates, telling the story of alan bates who was wrongly accused of false accounting and his efforts toe scandal that involved hundreds of postmasters were also represented in the drama, extracts back to 1999 at the post office over period of 20 years prosecuted many wrongly accused of false accounting and theft and the it drama that is encouraged these postmasters who never saw the needs of compensation to come forward now. those claimants going through a great deal of psychological trauma and evident in that we have talked about on bbc news, trying to draw a line under the worst of this crisis and how difficult it has been for people to get answers. the portrayal and it is extraordinary _ people to get answers. the portrayal and it is extraordinary to _ people to get answers. the portrayal and it is extraordinary to watch - people to get answers. the portrayal and it is extraordinary to watch and l and it is extraordinary to watch and they play a key role in the heart of many small communities and are the glue that keeps communities together and often trusted and loved those key peopl

that was alan bates. let's hear from 10 - alan bates.mpany? h uk. would you say that fu'itsu is an ethical company? firstly, _ uk. would you say that fujitsu is an ethical company? firstly, if- uk. would you say that fujitsu is an ethical company? firstly, if i - uk. would you say that fujitsu is an ethical company? firstly, ifi may. ethical company? firstly, ifi may 'ust ethical company? firstly, ifi may just comment _ ethical company? firstly, ifi may just comment on _ ethical company? firstly, ifi may just comment on what _ ethical company? firstly, ifi may just comment on what i - ethical company? firstly, ifi may just comment on what i have - ethical company? firstly, ifi may| just comment on what i have been listening _ just comment on what i have been listening to this morning, the sub—postmasters and their families. fujitsu _ sub—postmasters and their families. fujitsu would like to apologise for our part _ fujitsu would like to apologise for our part in — fujitsu would like to apologise for our part in this appalling miscarriage

alan bates told mps he still waiting for his full compensation. it's gone on for far too long.e dying, we are losing numbers along the way. and itjust seems to be tied up in bureaucracy. questions too for the ceo of the post office, nick read, who started in 2019. do you believe that the post office prosecuted the innocent knowing the case to be flawed? i sincerely hope not, but i've not had evidence to that effect. he was asked when the post office first knew when remote access to horizon branch terminals was possible. i couldn't give you an exact date on that. why can you not answer that question? it is fundamental to this case. where did the money wrongly taken from sub—postmasters go? he said it was possible it ended up as part of executives' pay. many wanted to know whatjo hamilton made of it all. i kind of knew what they were going to say. but he did say he was going to cough up? yeah, yeah, yeah. ish! yeah, so, that's good news. it's good news for the taxpayer anyway, isn't it? but we just need this fast—tracked. in davos, the global boss of fujitsu has just made his fir

alan bates, mr bates from the drama mr bates vs the post office, saying he had not yet had a first offerd this was despite the post office minister kevin hollinrake stating on the record in parliament that every applicant to the group litigation scheme, their specific compensation scheme, their specific compensation scheme that alan bates is part of, would receive their first offer of compensation within a0 working days of making their application to stop mr bates told the committee he put in his application at the beginning of october. it was now 66 working days since his obligation went in and he still had yet to receive an offer. on top of all of the problems with compensation, you would have thought that the one thing the government could get right was making an offer to the man who was sacked more than 20 years ago and has had to lead a two decades long campaign to get himself and so many other people exonerated and compensated. itjust smacks of other people exonerated and compensated. it just smacks of the sheer incompetence that i think has characterised the various compensation s

we had alan bates, the titular mr bates from the drama mr bates vs the post office, saying he had not compensation and this was despite the post office minister kevin hollinrake stating on the record in parliament that every applicant to the group litigation scheme, the specific compensation scheme that alan bates is part of, would receive their first offer of compensation within a0 working days of making their application. mr bates told the committee he put in his application at the beginning of october. it was now 66 working days since his application went in and he still had yet to receive an offer. on top of all of the problems with compensation, you would have thought that the one thing the government could get right was making an offer to the man who was sacked more than 20 years ago and has had to lead a two decades long campaign to get himself and so many other people exonerated and compensated. it just smacks of the sheer incompetence that i think has characterised the various compensation schemes which have been set up ad hoc and piecemeal since the high court litigation cam

by the way, alan bates, alan way, as for alan bates, alan bates, the real alan bates, not toby jones,arlier in the week, and he was asked about this. the ministers and whether they should, you know, they should, know, whether they should, whether his whether ed davey should lose his job. actually, he said no, job. and actually, he said no, he ed davey had he he felt that ed davey had been been in all the ministers have been given a bum steer , i have been given a bum steer, i think was the phrase he used and i thought that is there is a genuine decent person. he's not angry . he i genuine decent person. he's not angry. he i mean, obviously inside he there is a, you know, a horror as to what's happened . a horror as to what's happened. um, but he is, has shown, uh , he um, but he is, has shown, uh, he hasn't overreacted , perhaps in hasn't overreacted, perhaps in the way that i am actually, uh, and i thought there's a really he shouldn't just he should actually him the house of actually put him in the house of lords. would be to have lords. it would be good to have somebody like that i

when are your when's your government going to knight alan bates ? alan bates?oon as possible , >> mr bates as soon as possible, i hope, but obviously it's got to go through the ranks process. but i have to say new years, when the new year's honours list came through, i said, want to came through, i said, i want to see ordinary, extraordinary see more ordinary, extraordinary people . and i'm quite convinced people. and i'm quite convinced this man is an extraordinary person and the public will be behind him . anybody can nominate behind him. anybody can nominate him. and quite sure we will him. and i'm quite sure we will see. alan as soon as see. sir alan as soon as possible . possible. >> anneliese dodds as chair the labour party, that's not something you'd oppose. >> not. >> certainly not. >> certainly not. >> i think there's a very strong argument for i would say argument for it, but i would say as well as the symbolism around this and the empathy that we've heard , you know, what these heard, you know, what these former postmasters really need to see is comp

this is alan bates. 2a years ago, he raised an issue with the computer system at the post office he ran quarter of a century on, tobyjones is playing him in a television drama. we are all here to share our experiences. mr bates led a campaign to ensure hundreds of sub—postmasters get compensation and exoneration having been wrongly convicting of theft and fraud, some even jailed. now he finds himself the central character in a hit series. the last couple of weeks have been absolutely bananas, i think it is fair to say. it has been one thing after another. i haven't been able to put the phone down. it is great in some ways. a huge amount of support for the victims in all of this. at the heart of this scandal is the horizon computer system developed by the japanese company fujitsu. but this is about so much more than a disastrous it scheme. it hasjust doubled right in front of my eyes. now it says i am £4000 down. it is about reputations trashed, savings drained, suicides, allegations of a corporate cover—up, lying and an absence of accountability. this has been described as the most wide

you know, we give alan bates we need to give alan bates a knighthood, sir alan bates, for the work he's talk of knighthoods being stripped. that the very that fella surely is the very best of british. on the same topic, the first prime minister's questions of the year took place this lunchtime . in took place this lunchtime. in fact, i was there and lee anderson had the first question of the year. and as you'd expect, he made sure that the session with a bang by session started with a bang by asking about sir ed davey. >> this is the same liberal democrat leader who in the past has called for the resignation of over 30 prominent people in this country who have made mistakes in their job. so does mistakes in theirjob. so does the prime minister agree with me that leader of the lib dems that the leader of the lib dems should advice and should take his own advice and start by clearing desk, start by clearing his desk, clear clear off. clear his diary and clear off. >> there you go. he started the new year with a bang, a battle subtle as a house, brick to the head. but nevertheless entertai

this is alan bates. 24 years ago, he raised an issue with the computer system at the post office he ranshare our experiences. mr bates led a campaign to ensure hundreds of sub—postmasters get compensation and exoneration having been wrongly convicting of theft and fraud, some even jailed. now he finds himself the central character in a hit series. the last couple of weeks have been absolutely bananas, i think it's fair to say! it's been one thing after another. i haven't been able to put the phone down. i mean, it's great in some ways. a huge amount of support for the victims in all of this. statement. minister. and toni . ht statement. minister. and tonight in _ statement. minister. and tonight in the _ statement. minister. mr. tonight in the commons, statement. minister. fific tonight in the commons, tonight this. , , ., this. this is about restoration. - this. this is about restoration. the l this. this is about - restoration. the restoring this. this is about _ restoration. the restoring of people's good names and the restoring of the public cosmic trust both in our personal service

he says alan be knighted alan bates should be knighted for hard work.or all of his hard work. well, alan was actually offered. alan bates was actually offered. i it obe. he turned i think it was an obe. he turned it down because he he it down because he said he didn't accept it, didn't want to accept it, because wanted to until because he wanted to wait until every body had received justice before. an before. he then accepted an honoun before. he then accepted an honour. i like him. honour. you see, i like him. he's a man with integrity. uh, phil says, i don't think paula vennells at all. vennells is remorseful at all. she's because she was she's bothered because she was rumbled people as well. we rumbled many people as well. we don't have the answer to that, don't have the answer to that, do we? where has all the money gone? of this? money that gone? all of this? money that was back people? where was paid back by people? where has up? and the million has it ended up? and the million dollar as well. who dollar question as well. who should pick up the fo

>> uh, mr bates , alan bates, by >> uh, mr bates, alan bates, by the post office minister at the timetween 2010 and 2012. now the lib dem leader who man who we see today has called no less than 31 times for people in pubuc less than 31 times for people in public life. kevin, to stand down or resign or be sacked since 2019, he doesn't seem to practice what he preaches . practice what he preaches. >> well, no, but he's just one of a succession of not so useless post office ministers. we've had, uh, that james, i've deau we've had, uh, that james, i've dealt with over the years . dealt with over the years. credit to him. the one that really changed this was paul scully , who, when he became post scully, who, when he became post office minister, did really make sure he got some answers and got change. but before that, frankly, no, they just believed what the civil servants told them. the worst one i think i ever experienced in westminster hall debate was jo swinson. >> kevin, what do you make of fujitsu's role in all of this? of course, the company behind the horizon it scandal . they're

as alan bates ri . htl push our cause. as alan bates rightly says — push our cause. are you an: ? to get people to believe. are you angry? very. _ to get people to believe. are you angry? very. really. _ to get people to believe. are you| angry? very, really, really angry. and what do _ angry? very, really, really angry. and what do you _ angry? very, really, really angry. and what do you hope _ angry? very, really, really angry. and what do you hope people - angry? very, really, really angry. - and what do you hope people watching this morning will take from hearing you speak about it? i this morning will take from hearing you speak about it?— you speak about it? i would like --eole to you speak about it? i would like people to contact _ you speak about it? i would like people to contact their - you speak about it? i would like people to contact their mp, - you speak about it? i would like people to contact their mp, put | people to contact their mp, put people to contact their mp, put people on pressure —— put pressure on people to help us. we have needed help. we

and alan bates was there and he was saying. _ alan bates was there and he was saying.lse to go — the only one. no, they had nowhere else to go. now, if this bill was in place _ else to go. now, if this bill was in place they— else to go. now, if this bill was in place, they would not be the only one because they would raise an issue _ one because they would raise an issue with — one because they would raise an issue with the office of the whistleblower and the second would raise an _ whistleblower and the second would raise an issue independently. independent people raising issues, which _ independent people raising issues, which would form a pattern through which _ which would form a pattern through which an— which would form a pattern through which an investigation would be triggered. | which an investigation would be triu cered. ., i. which an investigation would be triu cered. ., ,, ., which an investigation would be trinered. ., . ., ~ triggered. i mean, you have talked to so many — triggered. i mean, you have talked to so many whistleblowers - triggered. i mean,

this is alan bates. 2a years ago he raised an issue with the computer system at the post office he ranrth wales. a quarter of a century on, tobyjones is playing him in a television drama. we a century on, toby jones is playing him in a television drama.- all him in a television drama. we are all here to — him in a television drama. we are all here to share _ him in a television drama. we are all here to share our— him in a television drama. we arei all here to share our experiences. white mr bates led a campaign to ensure hundreds of sub—postmasters get compensation and exoneration having been wrongly convicting of theft and fraud, some evenjailed. theft and fraud, some even jailed. now he finds himself the central character in the hit series. the last coume _ character in the hit series. the last coume of— character in the hit series. tue: last couple of weeks character in the hit series. tte: last couple of weeks have been absolutely bananas, i think it is about to say. it has been one thing after another. about to say. it has been one thing afteranother. i about to say. it has been

this is alan bates. 2a years ago he raised an issue with the computer system at the post office he rancentury on, tobyjones is playing him in a television drama. we're all here to share our experiences and... mr bates led a campaign to ensure hundreds of sub—postmasters get compensation and exoneration, having been wrongly convicted of theft and fraud — some evenjailed. now he fidns himself the central character in a hit series. the last couple of weeks have been absolutely bananas, i think it's fair to say! i mean, it's been one thing after another. i haven't been able to put the phone down. it's great in some ways. i mean, a huge amount of support for the victims in all of this. found my tonight the statement in the commons. this found my tonight the statement in the common— the commons. this is about the restorin: the commons. this is about the restoring of _ the commons. this is about the restoring of people _ the commons. this is about the restoring of people because - the commons. this is about the restoring of people because my| the commons. this is about the - restoring of peop

bates, who led the campaign, said today on bbc radio that the compensation payments have been very slowent for that. paul scully who ran the post office and was the minister, for the inquiry, he said this afternoon that it was in the department by the treasury who has to rubber—stamp effectively what is taxpayer money which is paying the compensation. i was the government responds to that?— responds to that? there are several la ers, a responds to that? there are several layers. a leading — responds to that? there are several layers, a leading politician - responds to that? there are several layers, a leading politician who - responds to that? there are several layers, a leading politician who has| layers, a leading politician who has played a big part, isaid layers, a leading politician who has played a big part, i said that the form that you got the feeling to start a plan for compensation is 1a pages of legally dense gobble he could do in his words, and he is a previous tax partner in a leading global law firm would not have been able to complete it and he would basically have to cha

and his spondence with alan alan bates , i don't alan bates, alan bates, i don't think, is angry withf he thinks there are lots of people , but there are people involved, but there are questions this is an questions for him and this is an election will any of this election year. will any of this mud stick either to davey or to starmer? don't forget, the tories were the main party of government into 2010 right until now . so there are questions now. so there are questions there, perhaps to be asked of dominic grieve, who was the conservative attorney general at the time . these are all really the time. these are all really important themes , those three important themes, those three themes. first foremost themes. but first and foremost it about the victims. i think it is about the victims. i think there's a fourth thing, by the way, which is surely somebody in the post office or a group of people in the post office, which was the private prosecuting authority . authority. >> he must have suspected at some point that that that they were putting a false prospectus before the courts and c

, alan bates .anding the resignations of others 31 times. in fact , should others 31 times. in fact, should mr davie be considering his position? >> well, it's sir ed davey, of course. >> somebody else who's had an honour since his time in, in office. and frankly , ed davey office. and frankly, ed davey has been hoist by his own petard. he's very quick to throw mud around. lots of his colleagues are very quick to call for resignations , but it call for resignations, but it was on his watch that alan bates , who comes out as a real hero of all of this, came to his department, said we need to get this sorted and was effectively swept aside. or his excuses about why he's lied to by the post office. i was a minister in the coalition government at the same time as ed davey in a different department, and when there things didn't there were things that didn't sound to me, didn't sound right to me, i didn't just sweep carpet. sweep it under the carpet. i actually went to people actually went to see the peop

. >> when you say about getting that money out of the door, i note alan bates, mr bates, note that alanously been the champion of the victims champion of all of the victims in this, has written to your colleague kevin hollinrake, saying, we need this compensation as compensation to be expedited as soon as possible. are you going to meet that august 2024 deadline, do you think, to compensate everybody? >> so the intention is to if i could get it all out tomorrow, i would do so. uh, we have not set a deadline because we don't want to create a hostage to fortune. our priority is looking after all those people who have been wronged. and kevin hollinrake has been a brilliant, brilliant minister. he was doing the job before i became business secretary, and he told me everything, and i just trusted him. said, you know what him. i said, you know what you're doing, you're on top of all the detail. let me know what senior approval you need. but he has spoken to alan bates on multiple occasions. unlike uh, lib dem ministers, ed davey who told told him go away . told him, told him to go away. we ar

of course, don't forget that bates, he don't forget that alan bates, he was honour.our. do you remember ? and he actually remember this? and he actually turned said he turned it down and said he doesn't want to accept it until everyone that's been affected has received basically the compensation what compensation and justice. what a good he is. and i'll tell good man he is. and i'll tell you people in public you now, some people in public office learn a thing or office could learn a thing or two the post office two about him. the post office minister be addressing minister will be addressing parliament imminently, apparently supposed be apparently was supposed to be about even about quarter past six. even when happens the when that happens during the show, make that i show, i will make sure that i cross live directly to that. and you will hear first. don't go you will hear it first. don't go anywhere. there's lots i want to talk to you after the talk to you about after the break. want to ask, should break. i want to ask, should councils be responsible for removing pa

i would like to pay coach tribute to alan bates who fellow postmasters including joe hamilton and alanthe right - including joe hamilton and lee - castleton and the right honourable member from castleton and the right honourable memberfrom north durham, my right honourable friend for halting price and how did the memberfor telford the memberfor and how did the memberfor telford the member for motherwell and indeed, of course the lord. and other members of the horizon compensation and the key figures in the media. they play a key role in seeking justice and compensation for the victims. i also think the shadow secretary of state for his continual constructive approach as well of course my ministerial predecessors including my honourable friend the memberfor including my honourable friend the member for sutton. watching including my honourable friend the memberfor sutton. watching last member for sutton. watching last week's memberfor sutton. watching last week's i view programme only reinforce our zealfor week's i view programme only reinforce our zeal for seeing justice done as quickly

he has been widely criticised because he initially turned down a meeting with alan bates, one of thewas then, several months later, the first postal affairs minister to meet with alan bates. he met him months later in october 2010. he has been questioned extensively about this, about what he knew and his response has been i wish i knew then what we all know now. he described it as a conspiracy on a huge scale with the post office lying to victims, and ministers. there were are questions about exactly what he knew at what time and as leader of the liberal democrats, there have been numerous post office ministers over the decades and given the time that he was in office and the prominence of his role at the moment, he is still facing a lot of questions. moment, he is still facing a lot of ruestions. ., ~ moment, he is still facing a lot of questions-— questions. thank you for that. a reminder that _ questions. thank you for that. a reminder that the _ questions. thank you for that. a reminder that the bbc _ questions. thank you for that. a reminder that the bbc news - questions. thank

alan bates , the period.id, i need to come and talk to you about all this terrible thing on. ed thing that's going on. and ed davey said, no, we're keeping the post office at arm's length. that's it. please don't. it won't be beneficial for you to come in. alan back and come in. uh, alan wrote back and said, that's offensive. and he said, that's offensive. and he said, it's because you're keeping office at arm's keeping the post office at arm's length they are able to act length that they are able to act without mercy. and so cruelly. and this is the this is the kicker, guys. so no ed davey leaves government and takes a job for an advisory post for the law firm herbert smith freehills , advising them on the post office at £833, an hour. yes. >> and i think in the end he earned in excess of £200,000 for his work with this company. he he certainly did. >> he unable initially to >> so he was unable initially to meet representative of the meet the representative of the persecuted post masters, but he was able to

alan bates , the period.o come and talk to you about all this terrible thing on. ed thing that's going on. and ed davey said, no, we're keeping the post office at arm's length. that's it. please don't. it won't be beneficial for you to come in. alan back and come in. uh, alan wrote back and said, that's offensive. and he said, that's offensive. and he said, it's because you're keeping office at arm's keeping the post office at arm's length they are able to act length that they are able to act without mercy. and so cruelly. and this is the this is the kicker, guys. so no ed davey leaves government and takes a job for an advisory post for the law firm herbert smith freehills , advising them on the post office at £833, an hour. yes. >> and i think in the end he earned in excess of £200,000 for his work with this company. he he certainly did. >> he unable initially to >> so he was unable initially to meet representative of the meet the representative of the persecuted post masters, but he was able to act for a la

alan bates that as well. postal affairs minister, he said what minister, and he said what purpose served a purpose would be served by a meeting? sure thing. >> and that's the >> and that's. and that's the theme, right? that runs through all is a lack of all of this is just a lack of curiosity by people in power, a lack of imagination. >> davis said . >> david davis said. >> david davis said. >> a lack of >> and just a lack of willingness to take the side even , even if all you're doing even, even if all you're doing is investigate , going to take is investigate, going to take the side ordinary citizens the side of ordinary citizens against powerful people and go hang on, maybe someone in power has got this wrong here. maybe i need to look into this. >> where does this go next? from a of view, how we a legal point of view, how do we get the people who should be stood dock the dock? stood in the dock in the dock? >> well, we need investigate. >> well, we need to investigate. and really pleased to hear and i was

seems to have refused a meeting with alan bates . have refused a meeting with alan bates.g with alan bates . there's screenshot i've bates. there's a screenshot i've seen is looks seen which i think is looks appears real on x, which appears to be real on x, which is from may 2010 where is a letter from may 2010 where he declines the meeting . now he declines the meeting. now he's saying he got bad advice. okay so doesn't come out okay so he doesn't come out well. one no one comes out well. no one no one comes out well. no one no one comes out well of and i think well out of it. and i think normally kind thing normally this kind of thing is silly when you hear about people giving cds or giving back their cds or whatever. this case, whatever. but in this case, i sort think maybe, maybe you should. >> well, should be taking a substantial pension well. substantial pension as well. i mean, add the mean, i wanted to add the context not judging someone context of not judging someone on but you look on one thing, but when you look at the big picture of what happened this horizon h

and that disgraceful letter that he wrote to alan bates , uh, is really to alan bates, uh, is reallyt today on . my i've retweeted it today on. my personal twitter feed at michael l crick so people can see it there. it shows no sympathy key to the problems that alan bates and his colleagues, uh , uh, and his colleagues, uh, uh, faced at the time and have faced ever since. it was clearly written by a civil servant, yet signed by him. um, and he he just showed no judgement . its just showed no judgement. its weakness, actually, as a minister, he listened to his officials and decided he wasn't allowed to meet the, uh, post office subpostmasters . um, he office subpostmasters. um, he should have a strong, uh, politician would have said to his officials, forget about that. i don't care what you say. i want to hear what these people say. i want to hear what mr bates says. have him in. and if they'd no, no, we they'd said, no, no, no, we can't have him into the department of business, he could have of have met them at the house of commons. met them commons. he could have met them in all sor

and that disgraceful letter that he wrote to alan bates , uh, is really to alan bates, uh, is reallyy on . my i've retweeted it today on. my personal twitter feed at michael l crick so people can see it there. it shows no sympathy key to the problems that alan bates and his colleagues, uh , uh, and his colleagues, uh, uh, faced at the time and have faced ever since. it was clearly written by a civil servant, yet signed by him. um, and he he just showed no judgement . its just showed no judgement. its weakness, actually, as a minister, he listened to his officials and decided he wasn't allowed to meet the, uh, post office subpostmasters . um, he office subpostmasters. um, he should have a strong, uh, politician would have said to his officials, forget about that. i don't care what you say. i want to hear what these people say. i want to hear what mr bates says. have him in. and if they'd no, no, we they'd said, no, no, no, we can't have him into the department of business, he could have of have met them at the house of commons. met them commons. he could have met them in all sorts of

as the postal affairs minister, ed davey was accused of refusing to meet alan bates , the meet alan bates subpostmaster who campaign to expose the scandal , subpostmaster who campaign to expose the scandal, which he denies . he expose the scandal, which he denies. he says he was misled by the post office executives. i wish i'd known then what we all know now. >> the post office was lying on an industrial scale to me. another ministers, and when i met alan bates and listened to his concerns, i put those concerns to the officials in my department, went to the post to office the national federation office the national federation of postmasters , and it's clear of postmasters, and it's clear they all were lying to me. >> treasury minister bim afolami says the government is taking this seriously , despite this seriously, despite criticism over how long it's taking. it's not fair that it's taken the tv drama. >> as i said, we brought forward the post office compensation bill several months ago in order to bring this forward. we've already interim already paid out interim payments compensation ,

but he has to alan bates on has spoken to alan bates on multiple occasions .uh, lib dem ministers. uh ed davey. who told him told him to go away. we are going to do everything we can. we want people to trust us that there is a here that really cares , a team here that really cares, but they can't be too much but they can't be left too much longer. delayed is justice >> no justice delayed is justice applied. absolutely. and at the moment it seems like very few of them have actually got that full amount compensation. amount of planned compensation. >> have given about two >> so we have given about two thirds the people who who thirds of the people who who should have got compensation . should have got compensation. we've we've got the money, uh, the, the difficulty area has been around the convictions . we been around the convictions. we wanted to see convictions overturned. we are now pushing that through. the legal precedent is new. uh, that was an argument that was very difficult. but we finally won it. so now that we've got that, uh, we've got the agreement

davey was out alan bates.self today , defending himself today, claiming he was lied to. take a listen. >> i wish i'd known then what we all know now for the post office was lying on an industrial scale to me . another ministers. was lying on an industrial scale to me . another ministers . and to me. another ministers. and when i met alan bates and listened to his concerns , i put listened to his concerns, i put those concerns to officials in my department to the post office, to national federations, office, to national federations, of postmasters. and it's clear they all were lying to me , with they all were lying to me, with me in the studio is the former editor of the sun fleet street legend kelvin mackenzie. >> kelvin . should he go? >> kelvin. should he go? >> kelvin. should he go? >> yes, i absolutely think he should go. and that it defence, though was appalling . really though was appalling. really your job. though was appalling. really yourjob. you are the minister. people are lying to you left , people

now we've all been gripped haven't we, by the drama alan bates versus the itv drama alan bates versusestions remain on how will all of these postmasters be cleared and what's next? that 24 year old louis alexander will be with us to share his incredible achievements, having completed the seven continents challenge. >> wow . yes, seven marathons on >> wow. yes, seven marathons on seven different continents. >> he's absolutely credible. it's a great story. >> he's absolutely credible. it's a great story . and of it's a great story. and of course, we'll be getting all the latest gossip in our wonderful showbiz section stephanie showbiz section with stephanie takyi. showbiz section with stephanie takyi . 80 soul superstar lee takyi. 80 soul superstar lee john of imagine nation will be leaving us under no illusions like that as he bares all with us later on in the show ahead of this city wide tour later this yeah >> that's going to be very exciting . and this show is exciting. and this show is nothing without you . nothing without you. >> really want to know your thoughts , your opinions o