Campaigner Alan Bates, known for his efforts in highlighting the Post Office scandal, has been recognized in the King’s Birthday Honours list and will be given a knighthood. Other notable figures on the list include artist Tracey Emin and cyclist Mark Cavendish, who will be awarded a damehood and knighthood, respectively. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been bestowed the highest honor as a Companion of Honour.
Singer Rebecca Ferguson, Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon, Countdown’s Susie Dent, and Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden are among the showbiz names to receive MBEs.
Bates, the founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, stated that he is accepting the honor on behalf of the entire group. He described the recognition, given for his services to justice, as a testament to the difficulties faced by the group over the years. “It’s not just for me, it’s for all of them,” he stated.
Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongfully convicted of stealing from the Post Office due to a faulty accounting system called Horizon. Bates had turned down an OBE last year in protest of former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells receiving a CBE in 2019. Vennells later returned her award in January and was officially stripped of the title by the King following the fallout from a TV drama on the scandal.
Bates explained that he felt it would have been “wrong” to accept an OBE last year and that it would have been “an insult” to other former sub-postmasters. “We’re a lot further forward with everything now,” he added.
Bates initially thought the knighthood offer was a “wind up” and admitted to weighing up whether to accept it, considering there is still “work to do” and many victims have not received fair financial redress. He encouraged other wronged former sub-postmasters to “stand firm” and not “sell themselves short,” assuring them that they will continue fighting for compensation if needed this autumn.
Bates also mentioned that Fujitsu, the company behind the faulty Horizon accounting system, has yet to contribute towards compensation. “I think they’re going to have to cough up somewhere along the line,” he said. “I very much see the government at the moment providing the redress for people, as a sort of middleman. I think there’s a lot of money to be recovered from elsewhere to repay the taxpayer in all of this.”
A team of approximately 80 Metropolitan Police officers are reportedly monitoring the Post Office inquiry closely. Bates believes they should be looking into potential criminal charges, including corporate charges, and not just for individuals. He met with police officers last month, before Vennells gave her testimony at the Post Office inquiry, which was also the day he was offered the knighthood.
If the police had stated that they were not investigating the matter, Bates stated that the former sub-postmasters would have fundraised privately to prosecute, stating, “Unlike them – the Post Office prosecuting the sub-postmasters.” He added, “I think we’ve got to wait and see evidence first – before prosecutions.”
When asked about his confidence in the Post Office and its interim chairman Nigel Railton, Bates responded, “I don’t know, but if he decided to sell the business, I would heavily support him.”
Bates reflected on how life has changed for him and his wife since the TV program aired, calling himself “the least likely celebrity you could find.” “It’s always been about the job,” he said. “Getting the job done, it’s not been about me. I still like escaping up to the hills, when I can, by myself.”
Suzanne Bates, Alan’s wife, will become a Lady when he receives the knighthood. In response to this, Alan stated, “She’s always been a lady to me.” Suzanne expressed her pride in her husband, stating that he is “very, very deserving.”
In a statement, Fujitsu Group acknowledged the matter with the utmost seriousness and apologized to the sub-postmasters and their families. The company stated that it remains committed to cooperating with the ongoing UK statutory public inquiry and will work with the UK government on appropriate actions, including contributing to compensation, based on the findings of the inquiry. They hope for a swift resolution that brings justice to the victims.
