Wrongly convicted sub-postmasters to get new compensation scheme

Shabana Mahmood, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, said: “Justice must be a reality, not an ideal,” adding that the scandal was an “inexplicable and unprecedented miscarriage of justice”.

“I am pleased today we can begin to right this wrong and ensure they are quickly and fairly compensated,” she added.

More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted during the Horizon IT scandal. The ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, broadcast in January, brought renewed attention to the ongoing plight of many affected.

An independent inquiry has been scrutinising the mistakes that led to the scandal.

One of the most anticipated appearances was former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells, who cried and apologised for her handling of the scandal and said that there was a great deal she couldn’t remember and much she hadn’t been told.

Former Conservative business secretary Greg Clark also appeared before the inquiry and said the Post Office’s prosecutions against sub-postmasters were “corrupt” and “unreliable”.

However, like former business secretary Sir Vince Cable, who also appeared before the inquiry, Mr Clark said the Post Office had not made him aware of any issues.

Alan Cook, former managing director of the Post Office, also apologised for accusing sub-postmasters of having their “hands in the till” and said he would “regret for the rest of my life” making the comments.

Additional reporting by Charlotte Edwards and Esyllt Carr.