Sir Alan Bates, the leading campaigner for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal, informed Members of Parliament that he has been awaiting a response from Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a month regarding compensation delays.

Bates, representing 555 subpostmasters from the Group Litigation Order scheme who sued the Post Office between 2017 and 2019, appeared before the Commons business committee to discuss securing timely and fair redress.

Tragically, 70 claimants have passed away while awaiting compensation.

Bates wrote to the PM seeking assistance to ensure the compensation is dispensed by March 2025.

Despite a reminder sent a few days prior, Bates has received no reply.

The lengthy wait, spanning over two decades, means some claimants, now in their 80s, are still suffering.

Bates also mentioned the potential for new legal action to expedite payments, which, although possible, could halt the current scheme.

The government's slow response was defended by a Downing Street spokesperson, citing the necessity for a thorough reply, while affirming their commitment to expedite redress for victims.