Mr Bates vs the Post Office

[Onelife]

I watched all four episodes of Mr Bates vs the Post Office last night and was appalled at the way the Post office treated these people…. these people were labelled as being dishonest and in many cases prosecuted for crimes they didn’t commit, what is more shocking is that the hierarchy at the post office were implicit in knowing what was going on.
It’s a bit late for many of the victims, some of whom committed suicide, some didn’t live long enough to see some form of justice being done, but I’m sure many of those remaining will be hoping the current police investigation doesn’t take as long as it did to prove these unfortunate people innocent.

[Stephen]

Just finished watching episode one on iPlayer Keith.
Gripping stuff, and as you say, appalling the way these people were treated.

[Onelife]

Just finished watching episode one on iPlayer Keith.
Gripping stuff, and as you say, appalling the way these people were treated.

Hi Stephen, 22 years is a very long time to see justice being done, lets just hope Sunak is good to his word and pays out the compensation without further delays. I’m not sure how compensation in such cases is agreed but I would like to think the immediate families of those no longer living will be compensated also.

[Stephen]

I have yet to watch the other three episodes so don’t know the outcome, but I would be more interested in seeing those responsible held to account and imprisoned like their victims.

[towny44]

I have yet to watch the other three episodes so don’t know the outcome, but I would be more interested in seeing those responsible held to account and imprisoned like their victims.

I agree totally Stephen. I just don't understand why no one at a reasonably senior level in the post office thought to question why so many post masters were suddenly encountering the same
Fraudulent losses after horizon went live.

[Stephen]

Watched the other three episodes last night John. Gripping stuff.
What a nightmare these people have had to endure. It makes you ashamed to be British when there is such a miss carriage of justice that has been allowed to drag on for years. And from what I can gather, with still no one held to account. It beggar's belief that in this day and age this sort of thing is allowed to happen.

Absolutely disgraceful.

[Onelife]

Watched the other three episodes last night John. Gripping stuff.
What a nightmare these people have had to endure. It makes you ashamed to be British when there is such a miss carriage of justice that has been allowed to drag on for years. And from what I can gather, with still no one held to account. It beggar's belief that in this day and age this sort of thing is allowed to happen.

Absolutely disgraceful.

Well said Stephen

[Ranchi]

The information behind Bates v PO has been public for some considerable time. Private Eye has long campaigned on the subject. It is worrying that it takes a digested and dramatised presentation to kick start a reaction. I get irritated by newscasters such as Tom (rolls his eyes and sighs) Bradby who enhance the news by gestures to share their opinion with the audience. I wonder if we are becoming desensitised and less able to take in factual information and make our own judgements owing to the nature of our news sources (tv, newspapers & Soc media.)
Increasingly I miss the more factual shorter and apparently disinterested delivery of news broadcasts of my youth.

[Onelife]

Hi Ranchie, as you say; the post office scandal has been public knowledge for some considerable time but as with most cases where cover up’s have taken place, and to a certain extent shielded from further scrutiny they can inevitably get swept under the carpet, or as some may put it “get lost in the post” it is for this reason programs such as Mr Bates vs the Post office are essential in highlighting ‘in depth’ what actually took place, this I believe is the reason Sunak has made recent statements about the unacceptable late deliveries of compensation for those effected.

With regards to: I wonder if we are becoming desensitised and less able to take in factual information and make our own judgements owing to the nature of our news sources (tv, newspapers & Soc media.)

I agree, in that, some/we are becoming less able to step outside the influences of what we see and read via the media…you’ve only got to listen to some of our forum members to see how they have been brainwashed into believing their ‘Royal Family’ still have a purpose in an era where social disparities are still increasing.

[Manoverboard]

The small Post Office in our village was shut down in 2003. Everybody knew that the ' Computer ' was taken away because it was faulty and that we no longer had our Postmistress but we had all assumed that it was a one off. Our Postmistress's health subsequently deteriorated and her marriage broke up, she had also lost her family home. Until recently nobody realised the probable cause and that this shocking story was being replicated throughout the Country.

So sad .... even sadder perhaps is that Ed Davey, Lib Dem Minister for the Post Office reportedly dismissed Mr Bates's concerns in 2010 as being unfounded. Had he had the balls to tackle the issue head on at that time the resultant delays and disgrace may not have been so grave.

[Onelife]

He probably listened to the post office who were telling complainants that… they were the 'only one' that were having a shortfall in their accounts”.

As you have highlighted Mob…it is so sad to hear the harrowing stories of those who were branded dishonest.

[Ray B]

Post Office v Mr Bates. Just watched the first episode, and if it was not for the fact it was a true story, it would have made a top thriller to keep the viewers watching.
You just can't but feel for the post mistress who was told by the help line to press a button, and there in front of her eyes, her shortfall doubles.

[Mervyn and Trish]

The small Post Office in our village was shut down in 2003. Everybody knew that the ' Computer ' was taken away because it was faulty and that we no longer had our Postmistress but we had all assumed that it was a one off. Our Postmistress's health subsequently deteriorated and her marriage broke up, she had also lost her family home. Until recently nobody realised the probable cause and that this shocking story was being replicated throughout the Country.

So sad .... even sadder perhaps is that Ed Davey, Lib Dem Minister for the Post Office reportedly dismissed Mr Bates's concerns in 2010 as being unfounded. Had he had the balls to tackle the issue head on at that time the resultant delays and disgrace may not have been so grave.

To be fair to Ed Davey, problems with Horizon were first reported in 2000 and hundreds of sub postmaster were prosecuted in the next few years, when Labour were in government. Davey failed to sort it out but he wasn't the first.

[Manoverboard]

The small Post Office in our village was shut down in 2003. Everybody knew that the ' Computer ' was taken away because it was faulty and that we no longer had our Postmistress but we had all assumed that it was a one off. Our Postmistress's health subsequently deteriorated and her marriage broke up, she had also lost her family home. Until recently nobody realised the probable cause and that this shocking story was being replicated throughout the Country.

So sad .... even sadder perhaps is that Ed Davey, Lib Dem Minister for the Post Office reportedly dismissed Mr Bates's concerns in 2010 as being unfounded. Had he had the balls to tackle the issue head on at that time the resultant delays and disgrace may not have been so grave.

To be fair to Ed Davey, problems with Horizon were first reported in 2000 and hundreds of sub postmaster were prosecuted in the next few years, when Labour were in government. Davey failed to sort it out but he wasn't the first.

Possibly so but I thought, mistakenly perhaps, that he was the first Minister of the Postal Service.

[Manoverboard]

The small Post Office in our village was shut down in 2003. Everybody knew that the ' Computer ' was taken away because it was faulty and that we no longer had our Postmistress but we had all assumed that it was a one off. Our Postmistress's health subsequently deteriorated and her marriage broke up, she had also lost her family home. Until recently nobody realised the probable cause and that this shocking story was being replicated throughout the Country.

So sad .... even sadder perhaps is that Ed Davey, Lib Dem Minister for the Post Office reportedly dismissed Mr Bates's concerns in 2010 as being unfounded. Had he had the balls to tackle the issue head on at that time the resultant delays and disgrace may not have been so grave.

To be fair to Ed Davey, problems with Horizon were first reported in 2000 and hundreds of sub postmaster were prosecuted in the next few years, when Labour were in government. Davey failed to sort it out but he wasn't the first.

Possibly so but I thought, mistakenly perhaps, that he was the first Minister of the Postal Service.

Additionally it is being reported that he didn't raise a single question on this subject in the House during his watch.

[towny44]

To be fair to Ed Davey, problems with Horizon were first reported in 2000 and hundreds of sub postmaster were prosecuted in the next few years, when Labour were in government. Davey failed to sort it out but he wasn't the first.

Possibly so but I thought, mistakenly perhaps, that he was the first Minister of the Postal Service.

Additionally it is being reported that he didn't raise a single question on this subject in the House during his watch.

But he wouldn't be raising questions since he was supposed to know what was going on, and presumably answering any questions that other MPs raised.

[Manoverboard]

If he had done his job properly, as a Post Office Minister who knew there was a problem, he should have asked the House if any of the Members therein had had any problems raised by their constituents. Instead he stuck his head in the sand and ignored the problem hoping it would go away no doubt.

[Onelife]

What Ed Davey did or didn’t say will no doubt come out in due course, but the best thing that could happen for the Liberal Democrats would be if he resigned anyway.

Our present political system is awash with cover-ups and back-handers.

[oldbluefox]

Considering there were so many cases which only started occurring with the introduction of the new system that nobody thought to query why this was happening.
The catalogue of disasters which followed is beyond belief and had somebody thought to investigate properly so much grief and misery could have been avoided.

[Stephen]

I blame Boris

[Mervyn and Trish]

It now emerges that a number of the cases were prosecuted by the CPS when guess who was in charge.

[poole boy]

Sir Keir Starmer sorry onelife but its not all the conservatives fault as you often try to make out

[Ray B]

A question raised in Parliament today by North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker asks for the Post Office to declare the total sum of money 'stolen' from the sub postmasters and postmistresses and why their accountants never noticed . The sum could run into millions.

[Onelife]

Sir Keir Starmer sorry onelife but its not all the conservatives fault as you often try to make out

Hi poole boy, I wasn’t aware that I particularly target the Conservative party, they are however the party in power and considering the chaotic political climate we have now it’s not surprising that they should come in for some stick… whilst accepting some will stay loyal whatever damage they have done to the country.

[david63]

This Post Office saga took place during the time that both parties were running the country.