Postmasters still being failed by the state! We need people like Alan Bates in the Lords.
Postmasters still being failed by the state! We need people like Alan Bates in the Lords.
The Issue
Call upon the UK Prime Minister and the Monarch to appoint Sir Alan Bates as a Life Peer.
Read today's (13 July, 2025) article @thetimes.com, about the continuing impact of the Post Office scandal on the families of sub-postmasters who were 'bullied and ostracised', and who watched an innocent parent go to prison.
👉 https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/stolen-childhoods-of-the-post-office-scandal-i-lost-all-my-mates-0z86f8j98
Then consider joining 48,300+ people who wish to see Sir Alan made a life peer! https://www.change.org/AlanBatesPeerage
"This miscarriage of justice involved wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters and mistresses for alleged theft and fraud, based on faulty information".
Some background information about the #PostOfficeScandal from a BBC News report, credit for this report to Michael Race and Lora Jones.
"Post Office scandal: The ordinary lives devastated by a faulty IT system - BBC News."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67956962
And, a "quote from Judgment (No.6) “Horizon Issues”:
"The proposition that Horizon worked as it was supposed to is an
obviously flawed one. Indeed, that proposition is also inconsistent with common sense."
https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bates-v-post-office-judgment.pdf
"For two decades, Sir Alan waged a David-versus-Goliath battle against the Post Office, fighting for justice for hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly accused of financial discrepancies due to a faulty computer system."
As reported by @tomambrose89 in the @Guardian, on 31 January 2024,
"The scandal, frequently described as “the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history”, resulted in more than 700 post office operators being prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 for theft, fraud and false accounting because of faulty accounting software installed in the late 1990s."
"Alan Bates: Postmasters are still being failed by the state
Government-run schemes keep failing the victims of the Horizon scandal, says their leading campaigner. People wronged by public bodies need a whole new system of redress."
"After being forced to stop running his Post Office branch in 2003, Alan Bates spearheaded the fight for justice and compensation." [Quote from the Guardian].
"His relentless pursuit of truth has inspired an ITV drama, garnered national attention, and ignited a public conversation about accountability and corporate responsibility. Now, a petition calls for a fitting recognition of his extraordinary service: a life peerage in the House of Lords."
"This isn’t just about honouring Sir Alan Bates’ individual struggle; it is about acknowledging the profound impact he has had on our understanding of fairness, justice, and public service. A life peerage represents more than just an honour; it offers a platform to amplify his voice and empower him to continue making a difference."
"Imagine Sir Alan Bates in the House of Lords, using his first-hand experience to champion crucial reforms, advocate for ethical corporate practices, and ensure such injustices never happen again. His presence would inject a much-needed dose of real-world experience and unwavering moral compass into the chamber."
Sir Alan Bates appointment would be ‘in recognition of his unwavering dedication and tireless campaign seeking justice for all sub-postmasters affected by the Post Office use of the Horizon computer system’.
We believe that Sir Alan Bates' exemplary efforts [widely reported in the media] and his unwavering commitment to seek justice for sub-postmasters, make him eminently deserving of a life peerage. It is our belief that such an honour will not only acknowledge his remarkable endeavours but also provide a platform for his continued contribution to the betterment of society.
For reference, [but not associated in any way with this petition] information regarding Sir Alan Bates' endeavours, can be found at the ’Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance website, https://www.jfsa.org.uk, ‘This alliance was established in 2009 by a group of affected sub-postmasters, and it ‘serves as a testament to Sir Alan Bates' enduring commitment to rectifying the wrongs perpetrated against all those affected’, their families, friends, work colleagues and local communities.
We urge the relevant bodies to consider this petition as a testament to the widespread support for the appointment of Sir Alan Bates as a life peer.”
Alan Bates deserves more than a knighthood; he could help redefine 'public service' for peers.
Read the article by Marina Hyde in the Guardian, where she comments about the then PM Rishi Sunak, "The PM says the campaigner should have a knighthood, but why stop there? He could show feckless peers what public service looks like."
She adds, "Bates’s 20-year campaign for justice for post office operators has finally got the recognition it deserves thanks to ITV’s extraordinarily consciousness-raising drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. But why not offer him a peerage?"
And of course, "None of which is meant to imply that all peers are workshy or venal or self-aggrandising – very far from it."
Marina Hyde noted, " Isn’t he precisely the sort of person most people would like to have in an upper chamber worth its salt? Dogged, steely, unshowy, and unemotional by design, Bates is almost tailor-made of the characteristics we ought to seek in public servants. (Whether or not he’d want the role is naturally a separate issue.)."
We, the undersigned, ask the new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and the Monarch, King Charles III, to note the strength of support for this petition - which attracted over 43,000 signatures in the first few weeks - a testament to the widespread support for the appointment of Sir Alan Bates as a life peer!
In summary:
Sir Alan Bates’s determination and advocacy have played a crucial role in exposing injustices caused by the Post Office Horizon IT scandal. His fight continues to resonate as a powerful example of seeking accountability and fairness in the face of adversity.
Please support and share this petition if you agree.
Thank you again for reading this piece, and full credit to Marina Hyde, for her piece in the Guardian, and other reporters and media quoted.
Some background links to the Post Office Horizon IT scandal: These are completely independent from, and unconnected to, the origin of this petition, and are provided simply as a selection of references for those interested in reading more about the background to this issue.
1. Post Office and Horizon: Inquiry.
This inquiry explores issues emerging from the Horizon IT Court cases, looking at the impact on sub-postmasters and its effect on the future viability of the Post Office, and examining the lessons the Government and Post Office Ltd have learned from a scandal which saw hundreds of sub-postmasters accused of fraud. https://committees.parliament.uk/work/97/post-office-and-horizon/
2. The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry website.
https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/
3. Mr Bates vs The Post Office ITV.
https://www.itv.com/watch/mr-bates-vs-the-post-office/10a0469/10a0469a0001
4. Progress Update from Sir Wyn Williams.
https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/progress-update-sir-wyn-williams
5. 37 Post Office, Fujitsu and former sub-postmaster statements published following Phase 4 investigations: 2 February 2024.
https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/news/37-post-office-fujitsu-and-former-sub-postmaster-statements-published-following-phase-4
6. Before: THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE FRASER
Between: Alan Bates and Others - and - Post Office Limited
Judgment (No.6) “Horizon Issues”. Date: 16 December 2019.
https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bates-v-post-office-judgment.pdf
7. Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance website - this alliance was established in 2009 by a group of affected sub-postmasters. https://www.jfsa.org.uk
8. Horizon: Ministers to work with Fujitsu on compensation costs but has no plans for law to tell citizens of government IT errors. https://www.publictechnology.net/
https://x.com/PublicTech/status/1754526797809500164?s=20
9. Our tiny magazine exposed the Post Office. They underestimated us. Two Computer Weekly journalists who were first alerted to the plight of sub-postmasters tell of 15 years of dogged work.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/our-tiny-magazine-exposed-the-horizon-scandal-they-underestimated-us-fpvfjl6cq
10. Post Office Horizon Scandal
Volume 743: debated on Wednesday 10 January 2024.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-01-10/debates/3DDD9684-C08D-4E5E-AF73-CF85839412AB/PostOfficeHorizonScandal#:~:text=The%20Horizon%20compensation%20advisory%20board,to%20speed%20up%20the%20process
11. Post Office scandal explained: What the Horizon saga is all about. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56718036
12. Special Report: Justice Lost In The Post Private Eye. https://www.postofficetrial.com/2020/05/private-eye-special-report-free-pdf.html
13. BBC One - Panorama, Scandal at the Post Office. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000gpbv
14. Fujitsu has ‘moral obligation’ to contribute to Post Office compensation, Europe boss says, as Alan Bates warns ‘people are dying waiting’.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2024/jan/16/post-office-fujitsu-bosses-government-quizzed-mps-horizon-scandal-mr-bates--live
15. Who is Alan Bates? The campaigner at the centre of the Post Office scandal.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/alan-bates-post-office-scandal-subpostmasters-horizon-b1131366.html
16. After being forced to stop running his Post Office branch in 2003, Alan Bates spearheaded the fight for justice and compensation. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/31/post-office-horizon-scandal-alan-bates-rejects-cruel-compensation-offer
17. Support and resources for victims, information and FAQs, supporting the Horizon IT Public Inquiry, and the latest data on compensation and redress from the Post Office Remediation Unit. https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/en/the-horizon-it-scandal/
18. For reference, and as further background, "On 16 January 2024, Post Office CEO Nick Read held a livestream event with Postmasters to express his recognition that this had been an incredibly challenging period for Postmasters following the airing of the Mr Bates vs the Post Office drama and to enable postmasters to ask any questions directly. Around 2,000 Postmasters joined the livestream." Source: https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/en/horizon-scandal-pages/response-to-mr-bates-vs-the-post-office/
19. Nick Read's note to Postmasters following the Livestream event. https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/media/pikb34lp/postmaster-email-following-livestream-18-january.pdf
20. More than 250 victims of PO scandal have died without justice. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/post-office-scandal-postmasters-dead-d66m3jbv6
21. Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill
'Unprecedented and wholly exceptional legal solution to a miscarriage of justice of unparalleled scale and impact which does not set any constitutional precedent.'
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-04/0181/en/230181en.pdf @SirJJKC @instituteforgov
https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/post-office-horizon-system-offences-bill
22. Post Office scandal: The ordinary lives devastated by a faulty IT system - BBC News. Credit: Michael Race and Lora Jones. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67956962
23. The Independent Inquiry examining failings surrounding the Post Office's Horizon IT system, and impacts on those affected, continues; further information can be found on its website.
https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/
24. Note: Lord Sikka's observations [re: Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament, Monday 13 May 2024]. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-05-13/debates/4B96D1CB-F6EF-42CA-9A25-A05CA67D5EF0/details#contribution-55C9D092-4C13-41AA-8C3B-D81F49FF497E
25. #PostOfficeScandal: Read this report on 26 May 2024 by @LBC: The most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history? www.lbc.co.uk/news/selective-amnesia-alan-bates-paula-vennells-post-office-horizon/
26. 'Post Office campaigner Alan Bates has been knighted in recognition of his role in exposing the Horizon IT scandal, one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.' Via @guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jun/14/post-office-campaigner-alan-bates-knighted-in-kings-birthday-honours
27. 'Alan Bates: Postmasters are still being failed by the state
Government-run schemes keep failing the victims of the Horizon scandal, says their leading campaigner. People wronged by public bodies need a whole new system of redress.' Via @thetimes.com https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/alan-bates-the-state-is-still-failing-sub-postmasters-nx29szw9j
28. 'Article @thetimes.com, about the continuing impact of the Post Office scandal on the families of sub-postmasters 'bullied and ostracised', who watched an innocent parent go to prison.
👉 https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/stolen-childhoods-of-the-post-office-scandal-i-lost-all-my-mates-0z86f8j98
48,343
The Issue
Call upon the UK Prime Minister and the Monarch to appoint Sir Alan Bates as a Life Peer.
Read today's (13 July, 2025) article @thetimes.com, about the continuing impact of the Post Office scandal on the families of sub-postmasters who were 'bullied and ostracised', and who watched an innocent parent go to prison.
👉 https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/stolen-childhoods-of-the-post-office-scandal-i-lost-all-my-mates-0z86f8j98
Then consider joining 48,300+ people who wish to see Sir Alan made a life peer! https://www.change.org/AlanBatesPeerage
"This miscarriage of justice involved wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters and mistresses for alleged theft and fraud, based on faulty information".
Some background information about the #PostOfficeScandal from a BBC News report, credit for this report to Michael Race and Lora Jones.
"Post Office scandal: The ordinary lives devastated by a faulty IT system - BBC News."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67956962
And, a "quote from Judgment (No.6) “Horizon Issues”:
"The proposition that Horizon worked as it was supposed to is an
obviously flawed one. Indeed, that proposition is also inconsistent with common sense."
https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bates-v-post-office-judgment.pdf
"For two decades, Sir Alan waged a David-versus-Goliath battle against the Post Office, fighting for justice for hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly accused of financial discrepancies due to a faulty computer system."
As reported by @tomambrose89 in the @Guardian, on 31 January 2024,
"The scandal, frequently described as “the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history”, resulted in more than 700 post office operators being prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 for theft, fraud and false accounting because of faulty accounting software installed in the late 1990s."
"Alan Bates: Postmasters are still being failed by the state
Government-run schemes keep failing the victims of the Horizon scandal, says their leading campaigner. People wronged by public bodies need a whole new system of redress."
"After being forced to stop running his Post Office branch in 2003, Alan Bates spearheaded the fight for justice and compensation." [Quote from the Guardian].
"His relentless pursuit of truth has inspired an ITV drama, garnered national attention, and ignited a public conversation about accountability and corporate responsibility. Now, a petition calls for a fitting recognition of his extraordinary service: a life peerage in the House of Lords."
"This isn’t just about honouring Sir Alan Bates’ individual struggle; it is about acknowledging the profound impact he has had on our understanding of fairness, justice, and public service. A life peerage represents more than just an honour; it offers a platform to amplify his voice and empower him to continue making a difference."
"Imagine Sir Alan Bates in the House of Lords, using his first-hand experience to champion crucial reforms, advocate for ethical corporate practices, and ensure such injustices never happen again. His presence would inject a much-needed dose of real-world experience and unwavering moral compass into the chamber."
Sir Alan Bates appointment would be ‘in recognition of his unwavering dedication and tireless campaign seeking justice for all sub-postmasters affected by the Post Office use of the Horizon computer system’.
We believe that Sir Alan Bates' exemplary efforts [widely reported in the media] and his unwavering commitment to seek justice for sub-postmasters, make him eminently deserving of a life peerage. It is our belief that such an honour will not only acknowledge his remarkable endeavours but also provide a platform for his continued contribution to the betterment of society.
For reference, [but not associated in any way with this petition] information regarding Sir Alan Bates' endeavours, can be found at the ’Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance website, https://www.jfsa.org.uk, ‘This alliance was established in 2009 by a group of affected sub-postmasters, and it ‘serves as a testament to Sir Alan Bates' enduring commitment to rectifying the wrongs perpetrated against all those affected’, their families, friends, work colleagues and local communities.
We urge the relevant bodies to consider this petition as a testament to the widespread support for the appointment of Sir Alan Bates as a life peer.”
Alan Bates deserves more than a knighthood; he could help redefine 'public service' for peers.
Read the article by Marina Hyde in the Guardian, where she comments about the then PM Rishi Sunak, "The PM says the campaigner should have a knighthood, but why stop there? He could show feckless peers what public service looks like."
She adds, "Bates’s 20-year campaign for justice for post office operators has finally got the recognition it deserves thanks to ITV’s extraordinarily consciousness-raising drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. But why not offer him a peerage?"
And of course, "None of which is meant to imply that all peers are workshy or venal or self-aggrandising – very far from it."
Marina Hyde noted, " Isn’t he precisely the sort of person most people would like to have in an upper chamber worth its salt? Dogged, steely, unshowy, and unemotional by design, Bates is almost tailor-made of the characteristics we ought to seek in public servants. (Whether or not he’d want the role is naturally a separate issue.)."
We, the undersigned, ask the new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and the Monarch, King Charles III, to note the strength of support for this petition - which attracted over 43,000 signatures in the first few weeks - a testament to the widespread support for the appointment of Sir Alan Bates as a life peer!
In summary:
Sir Alan Bates’s determination and advocacy have played a crucial role in exposing injustices caused by the Post Office Horizon IT scandal. His fight continues to resonate as a powerful example of seeking accountability and fairness in the face of adversity.
Please support and share this petition if you agree.
Thank you again for reading this piece, and full credit to Marina Hyde, for her piece in the Guardian, and other reporters and media quoted.
Some background links to the Post Office Horizon IT scandal: These are completely independent from, and unconnected to, the origin of this petition, and are provided simply as a selection of references for those interested in reading more about the background to this issue.
1. Post Office and Horizon: Inquiry.
This inquiry explores issues emerging from the Horizon IT Court cases, looking at the impact on sub-postmasters and its effect on the future viability of the Post Office, and examining the lessons the Government and Post Office Ltd have learned from a scandal which saw hundreds of sub-postmasters accused of fraud. https://committees.parliament.uk/work/97/post-office-and-horizon/
2. The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry website.
https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/
3. Mr Bates vs The Post Office ITV.
https://www.itv.com/watch/mr-bates-vs-the-post-office/10a0469/10a0469a0001
4. Progress Update from Sir Wyn Williams.
https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/progress-update-sir-wyn-williams
5. 37 Post Office, Fujitsu and former sub-postmaster statements published following Phase 4 investigations: 2 February 2024.
https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/news/37-post-office-fujitsu-and-former-sub-postmaster-statements-published-following-phase-4
6. Before: THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE FRASER
Between: Alan Bates and Others - and - Post Office Limited
Judgment (No.6) “Horizon Issues”. Date: 16 December 2019.
https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/bates-v-post-office-judgment.pdf
7. Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance website - this alliance was established in 2009 by a group of affected sub-postmasters. https://www.jfsa.org.uk
8. Horizon: Ministers to work with Fujitsu on compensation costs but has no plans for law to tell citizens of government IT errors. https://www.publictechnology.net/
https://x.com/PublicTech/status/1754526797809500164?s=20
9. Our tiny magazine exposed the Post Office. They underestimated us. Two Computer Weekly journalists who were first alerted to the plight of sub-postmasters tell of 15 years of dogged work.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/our-tiny-magazine-exposed-the-horizon-scandal-they-underestimated-us-fpvfjl6cq
10. Post Office Horizon Scandal
Volume 743: debated on Wednesday 10 January 2024.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-01-10/debates/3DDD9684-C08D-4E5E-AF73-CF85839412AB/PostOfficeHorizonScandal#:~:text=The%20Horizon%20compensation%20advisory%20board,to%20speed%20up%20the%20process
11. Post Office scandal explained: What the Horizon saga is all about. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56718036
12. Special Report: Justice Lost In The Post Private Eye. https://www.postofficetrial.com/2020/05/private-eye-special-report-free-pdf.html
13. BBC One - Panorama, Scandal at the Post Office. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000gpbv
14. Fujitsu has ‘moral obligation’ to contribute to Post Office compensation, Europe boss says, as Alan Bates warns ‘people are dying waiting’.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2024/jan/16/post-office-fujitsu-bosses-government-quizzed-mps-horizon-scandal-mr-bates--live
15. Who is Alan Bates? The campaigner at the centre of the Post Office scandal.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/alan-bates-post-office-scandal-subpostmasters-horizon-b1131366.html
16. After being forced to stop running his Post Office branch in 2003, Alan Bates spearheaded the fight for justice and compensation. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/31/post-office-horizon-scandal-alan-bates-rejects-cruel-compensation-offer
17. Support and resources for victims, information and FAQs, supporting the Horizon IT Public Inquiry, and the latest data on compensation and redress from the Post Office Remediation Unit. https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/en/the-horizon-it-scandal/
18. For reference, and as further background, "On 16 January 2024, Post Office CEO Nick Read held a livestream event with Postmasters to express his recognition that this had been an incredibly challenging period for Postmasters following the airing of the Mr Bates vs the Post Office drama and to enable postmasters to ask any questions directly. Around 2,000 Postmasters joined the livestream." Source: https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/en/horizon-scandal-pages/response-to-mr-bates-vs-the-post-office/
19. Nick Read's note to Postmasters following the Livestream event. https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/media/pikb34lp/postmaster-email-following-livestream-18-january.pdf
20. More than 250 victims of PO scandal have died without justice. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/post-office-scandal-postmasters-dead-d66m3jbv6
21. Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill
'Unprecedented and wholly exceptional legal solution to a miscarriage of justice of unparalleled scale and impact which does not set any constitutional precedent.'
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-04/0181/en/230181en.pdf @SirJJKC @instituteforgov
https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/post-office-horizon-system-offences-bill
22. Post Office scandal: The ordinary lives devastated by a faulty IT system - BBC News. Credit: Michael Race and Lora Jones. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67956962
23. The Independent Inquiry examining failings surrounding the Post Office's Horizon IT system, and impacts on those affected, continues; further information can be found on its website.
https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/
24. Note: Lord Sikka's observations [re: Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament, Monday 13 May 2024]. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-05-13/debates/4B96D1CB-F6EF-42CA-9A25-A05CA67D5EF0/details#contribution-55C9D092-4C13-41AA-8C3B-D81F49FF497E
25. #PostOfficeScandal: Read this report on 26 May 2024 by @LBC: The most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history? www.lbc.co.uk/news/selective-amnesia-alan-bates-paula-vennells-post-office-horizon/
26. 'Post Office campaigner Alan Bates has been knighted in recognition of his role in exposing the Horizon IT scandal, one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.' Via @guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jun/14/post-office-campaigner-alan-bates-knighted-in-kings-birthday-honours
27. 'Alan Bates: Postmasters are still being failed by the state
Government-run schemes keep failing the victims of the Horizon scandal, says their leading campaigner. People wronged by public bodies need a whole new system of redress.' Via @thetimes.com https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/alan-bates-the-state-is-still-failing-sub-postmasters-nx29szw9j
28. 'Article @thetimes.com, about the continuing impact of the Post Office scandal on the families of sub-postmasters 'bullied and ostracised', who watched an innocent parent go to prison.
👉 https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/stolen-childhoods-of-the-post-office-scandal-i-lost-all-my-mates-0z86f8j98
48,343
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Petition created on 23 January 2024