Jo Hamilton, one of the sub-postmasters who inspired the ITV drama “Mr Bates vs the Post Office,” used the National Television Awards as a platform to criticize the government over the compensation scheme for those falsely accused of stealing money from their Post Offices. Hamilton, who was falsely accused of stealing £36,000 from her Post Office in Hampshire, expressed her disappointment with the lack of progress in payouts since Labour came to power.
Addressing the audience at the O2 arena in London and viewers watching on ITV, Hamilton highlighted the fact that many of the 555 workers who won a landmark civil case against the Post Office in 2019 had still not received full compensation. She specifically mentioned campaign leader Sir Alan Bates, who was offered only 30% of his claim and rejected the offer in May.
The compensation scheme, launched by the previous Conservative government, offers a fixed payment of £75,000, but many victims have pushed for more. As of August 30, £87m has been paid out under the scheme, including interim payments. In response to the criticism, ministers stated that they were working tirelessly to provide full, fair, and swift redress to the affected individuals.
The ITV drama shed light on the wrongful convictions and accusations faced by hundreds of Post Office workers due to a faulty accounting system. The government has made 253 compensation offers to the affected group, with 207 being accepted. Additionally, more than £289m has been paid out to over 2,800 people across various compensation schemes.
Hamilton’s impassioned plea at the award ceremony has reignited calls for the government to expedite the compensation process and provide justice to those who have suffered as a result of the Post Office IT scandal. The public outcry and support for the affected individuals continue to grow, putting pressure on the government to act swiftly and fairly in resolving this long-standing issue.
