Best bits: Alan Bates lifts the lid on Post Office cover-up of Horizon scandal in Inquiry

[@EmptyGlass99]

Some people from the post office need to face jail time. Nothing else would be justice.

[@LBisgrove]

Don't forget government ministers. Incompetence must be suitably rewarded!!

[@John-is5xk]

They are experts at kicking things into the long grass!! I think the covid vaccine harms is in that long grass somewhere!

[@triggersw3350]

Not to mention confiscating their bonuses etc. as 'proceeds of crime' , so at least taxpayers get back some of the public money misspent trying to save PO management's own skins.

[@NoxiousRob]

Given that some of the post masters ended up doing jail time, then those in the post office who were complicit in this gross miscarriage of justice should certainly end up in jail. I doubt it will happen though.

[@movesky6696]

work shop jail repair mail bag

[@philbraithwaite1316]

Corporate management culture against the “little people”. Obviously they hadn’t reckoned on dealing with someone of substance like Alan Bates. The man’s a national hero.

[@davidallan5671]

If this tv docudrama hadn’t broadcast this how long would these poor people have waited for justice.

[@Pollycat15]

Highly toxic / narcissistic corporate management culture. 🤬

[@Pollycat15]

Highly toxic and narcissistic corporate management culture.

[@yddraigoch]

@@davidallan5671 it would have been hidden, much like anything to do with UK government and the establishment ......................things have been hidden for centuries and they will try their best to still avoid the oppression of the people

[@martinmcdonald4207]

They had the neck to offer him a knighthood, he told them to stick it up their arses. True hero for the people.

[@ColinTurner-v6k]

Over 20 years fighting and suffering. 1 man bringing many together to take on all in his way.What a truly incredible, humble, warrior of a man with utter integrity. A man that is rare, that is of principle, morality and of standards that few at the very top of society display and should learn from Alan. Alan you are a hero and may the Gods give you the strength to see this through so that the wrong doers are accountable and receive the correct punishment fir their dishonourable and abhoric behaviour.

[@rogereade4950]

there are many public leaders who could take lessons from this man about integrity.

[@suewilkinson9518]

Here here!! well put!

[@bridamc3493]

Mr Bates is the kind of person we need as a Leader a Prime minister for the greater good of all people.

[@felixthecat3n2]

An excellent comment. Well said!

[@Pho909]

Absolutely disgusting behaviour from the Post Office. Mr Bates, fought a long hard battle with these dishonourable figures. They should all be thrown in prison.

[@gordonjenkins8171]

The country is in debt to this man for his bravery. And the sooner the police investigate the sooner people should be protected

[@gwyneth7812]

Police investigate????

[@Ffinity]

@@gwyneth7812 Lying is a criminal offence, are you so ignorant that you don't know that? Or are you just stupid?

[@t.dmytryshyn2615]

The police have been investigating for over 2 years and yet no charges have beenlaid.

[@Ffinity]

@@t.dmytryshyn2615 The police lie. Sometimes they rape and murder. Fact!

[@gbear1005]

Sooner they can be prosecuted

[@loopwithers]

The levels of malicious intent revealed towards the sub postmasters from the Post Office "partners" just keeps growing and growing

[@miracles4u]

And have you ever wondered why and where this hatred comes from matey boy???????

[@diane4488]

​@@miracles4u What do you mean? It's highly unprofessional, to be dishonest, and malicious in this way. Especially when such people are employed as 'investigators' for a government owned organisation, reporting to Parliament. How could they be so evil, in wrecking the lives of others, so badly, when they knew things weren't legitimate, and that many others were raising the very same problems? Which they blatantly lied about.

[@sadjaxx]

PO management treated them like stupid sacrificial cows, when the PO management didn't even know that poorly written buggy software was to blame for it all. Has a thorough audit of the whole even been done?! They spent all their efforts on covering up and NONE on actually identifying and fixing the problem.

[@cassandratq9301]

To this day!

[@williamdavidpritchard4333]

One law for the rich and powerful and one for the poor, until Alan Bates came and gave them a lesson in honesty and respect.

[@julierogers1155]

There are NO LAWS for the 'rich and powerful'.

[@tonygunn6889]

Call thug in suit

[@charlesjames1442]

Which they will never learn.

[@juztnlast953]

Only takes a good twenty years of one's life to be listened to. A tv miniseries also does wonders.

[@juztnlast953]

@@julierogers1155 You are right there are no laws that favour the rich a powerful, but the legal process disadvantages those with limited money, therefore it does favour the rich and powerful.

[@garywilson1235]

Jail required for the PO and Fujitsu bigwigs who knew the Horizon system was flawed, yet still pushed relentlessly to ruin peoples lives.

[@longleaf0]

What about the MP who was just a shill for them?

[@huwpatt3817]

This is how corporate state capture works... it is fascism as mussolini defined it.... the justice of a community must be managed by the community... not a remote body.

[@mikeyoung7660]

Do we really believe that any of them will serve a custodial sentence. I bet they dont

[@garywilson1235]

@@mikeyoung7660 No chance! And that is a sad reflection of our class bias these days.

[@mikeyoung7660]

@@garywilson1235 👍👍👍👍👍

[@clarathordiss3663]

Jason Beer has so much respect for Alan Bates in such stark contrast to his contempt for the pathetic, squirming PO witnesses.

[@martinmcdonald4207]

I know what you mean, but is `contempt` the right word. Mr. Beer is after all a true professional.

[@wickedwitchoftheeast88]

​@@martinmcdonald4207 I don't think Jason Beers has shown contempt for PO execs but he has certainly expossd their arrogance and stupidity throughout the inquiry and made them look like utter dickheads for the world to see

[@sararichardson737]

Fascinating. Go Mr Bates.

[@stillgame2706]

I don't believe in the honours system in our country, actors, celebrities, politicians, civil servants, sports people, it is cringe worthy the lot of them. Alan Bates should be awarded the highest award possible, he is a hero, if he were to be awarded anything it would be posthumously, because it has a lot of time yet to be dragged out and obfuscated. He would proberbly tell them to stick it up their arse. HERO

[@kathrynford3937]

I understand he did refuse an honour.

[@dh2032]

@@kathrynford3937 a bit airily with bribes, next stage with cash, he own cash returned, then, avoid, all open place, untrusted food and drinks, cross roads, the lot has are to big to fall (like way they descried the banks there to big ti fail, has only small cog in a big machine, I hope he lawyers are watching he back go and proper, good luck Mr Bates, don't give an inch

[@simoncardie9371]

​@@dh2032English obviously isn't your first language, but I know what you're saying. You're right. He'd never accept a worthless knighthood.

[@paulsotheron710]

Here here, totally agree. It’s not what you do but who you know, it would seem.

[@steves5172]

HERO INDEED! Leave the gongs to the luvvies and arse kissers who grovel so well!

[@Itchicoo-Park]

What superb prime minister Alan Bates would make - a calm, ethical guy with a strong moral backbone. Something sadly lacking in Parliament nowadays.....

[@andydudley1775]

we had one he was called jeremy corbyn.despite he stubbern and did not listen to advice .he was the best we had to make a change .use voted tory and i think you deserved them.

[@margaretchurchill5775]

Yes , Alan Bates for prime minister. I certainly would trust him, don’t have much faith in what’s in at the moment.

[@ianogden5067]

The debate is whether it is worth sacrificing your health and wellbeing (debatable) compared to the possible wealth of being an ex Prime Minister. Ambition,Money and the lust for power can produce the problems we now have.

[@michaeloneill8807]

needs to go into the house of lords

[@TheArgieH]

Really ? BoJo seems to be thriving on his return to "journalism" and "writing". Will he be invited to panel shows. David C has his ideal job, Liz T is on the speaking circuit. How nice for some.😂😂 ​@ianogden5067

[@shizzlenizzle98]

Mr Bates should be remembered for his bravery for standing up against a serious injustice. Legend.

[@cassandratq9301]

STILL not compensated!!

[@davidhawes7959]

house of lords an knighthood for mr Bates. Also massive state compensation for him and all . Vennel needs to face serious time inside and repaying of her salary and bonuses.

[@nicholasrupertswainson1168]

Agree - If Vennels doesn't spend time inside.................................!

[@tomricketts7821]

Plus her little side kick as well

[@blue2sco]

He's all ready been offered and turned it down

[@shooglies]

Why the hell would that man want to be anywhere near that HOL place with that nest of vipers, listening to their bullshit. He would be out of there as quick as his legs would carry him

[@miracles4u]

Knighthood WTF!?????

[@philstanton231]

Sir Alan Bates, for his services to the truth and uncovering of Corporate lies

[@miracles4u]

Yeah great so he can join the other hypocrites....

[@carrier411]

should have a publicly-appointed title of Sir, just start calling him Sir... see what happens

[@stooriefitdrones]

The fact that he is referred to as Bates rather than Mr Bates tells us all what the Post Office thought about people that were supposedly in partnership with.

[@seegee9927]

Mr Bates or Alan Bates would be OK, but dropping both given name and title is downright rude (unless it's someone you know well, or in certain school/ professional contexts).

[@janeday9148]

It does jarr ,it's rude & shows contempt , it's not appropriate in official correspondence

[@boudicca9807]

It's as if he was a gamekeeper on m'lord's estate.

[@lfc-europe]

Totally agree

[@stevecarter8810]

It smacks of public school cronyism

[@simoncardie9371]

If it wasn't for the tenacity of this man, the Post Office would have got away with everything. These are the kind of people we need running our country.

[@paulsotheron710]

Alan Bates, a man of integrity, truth, strength of character and fortitude. All the attributes that the post office hierarchy have not got. He should get the medal that the woman who was in charge was given.

[@paulfletcher4709]

The only person NOT being paid to be in that enquiry room is the very person who instigated them all being there earning millions and he STILL hasn’t been paid out 20 years later !!!!

[@JulieWallis1963]

Absolutely. Bravo.

[@anonnemo2504]

Yes, and how long will it be before anybody faces justice if it has to wait for the end of an inquiry conducted by long winded KCs, some of whose questioning is irrelevant and some of which is plain stupid, and who are paid from the public purse by the hour? There is no reason why the police should wait until the end of this inquiry to begin criminal investigations. There is sufficient evidence against specific individuals for them to begin immediately.

[@madmelwood3778]

100%

[@BenDorm]

To make things much worse, the Post Office is spending Millions of pounds of tax payers money defending themselves, knowing full well they are guilty. People like Alan Bates still have not received any compensation whatsoever. The Sub Postmasters should also be receiving a separate compensation from Fujitsu.

[@cassandratq9301]

Absolutely mind-boggling.

[@david672orford]

The post office letter is insinuating that the problem was that Mr Bates was too stupid to operate Horizon. Ironic that they said this about a man who projects intelligence so strongly.

[@sadjaxx]

Since senior management did not understand how it worked they could not fathom that their sub staff could understand how the software worked.

[@PaulCole-71]

I've watched the whole inquiry today and Alan Bates is a formidable and most impressive man. He would make me proud to be British if it wasn't for the fact the Post Office (or P Off for short) is also British.

[@tombeeston573]

That P looks like a B

[@richardchapman1270]

At last a plausible and competent witness - after all the "ducking and weaving" displayed by PO witnesses in earlier hearings. Quite horrifying to see how the P.O. dodged the issues and prevaricated on every possible occasion, instead of answering the perfectly valid questions put to them. Those responsible really should be locked up (and the key thrown away).

[@splatten8597]

The lawyers working for the Post Office should be investigated as well!

[@stpfs9281]

Auditors were dismissed, when they got too close to the truth.

[@splatten8597]

@@stpfs9281 yes indeed. A cover up

[@michaelhearn3052]

​@stpfs9281 Yes, and they are to be interviewed later in May 2024.

[@cassandratq9301]

I just watched that one. The head lawyer is one of the most odious individuals I have ever observed.

[@AEKarys]

Agree wholeheartedly! And the judges who sentenced innocent people!

[@daviddavies2072]

This has opened a can of worms, the king needs to Knight this man, and this country is rotten to the core , greed has taken hold , well done mr bates 👍🇬🇧

[@Arangggg]

Nahh the king is too busy giving knight hoods to sir Tony Blair and sir Jacob Rees mogg and sir Gavin Williamson

[@JR-1983]

​@@Aranggggand Sir Jimmy

[@Arangggg]

@@JR-1983 can't forgot him

[@sauvignonblanc0]

Most honours are the gift of the government and I suspect that he wants to be forever known as 'Mr Beats'.

[@andrewh2u]

We need to see Post Office executives and their lying lawyers and investigators serving jail time for this and heavy compensation for their victims and the families of lost victims.

[@le13579]

And the board.

[@GpoppaJohn]

This man deserves a knighthood for his tenacity and for lifting people out of sheer desperation, giving them their hope and integrity back, all in the name of justice.

[@louisestebbings3145]

He won’t get it. The civil servants who caused this will get them, but Alan Bates won’t.

[@geoffwells6724]

He has been knighted now!

[@thecrimsondragon9744]

I hope Charles personally apologised to him for the CBE being awarded to the vermin, Vennells.

[@t.dmytryshyn2615]

The only reason he wasn't charged is that Mr. Bates refused to sign off on the accounting, I just wish the rest of the Sub-Postmasters and Mistresses had done the same.

[@julierogers1155]

Some of the others were threatened with JAIL TIME, Mr. Bates (to my knowledge) was never threatened with jail.

[@NotThatOneThisOne]

​@@julierogers1155wasn't the threat of jail time due to claims for fraudulent accounting because they had signed off accounts in the knowledge that they were wrong? Since Bates didn't sign them off, he couldn't have that charger brought against him.

[@julierogers1155]

@@NotThatOneThisOne I do NOT know enough definitively to answer your question at this point. I know that in some cases that is true. From the numbers (so MANY) of "SUBS" that this affected it is easy for me to imagine some of them did NOT "sign off on accounts they knew were wrong". AND, Fujitsu and the Post Office were telling these 'SUBS" that the accounts were unequivocally CORRECT. The Horizon software was infallible (UGH). It BOILS my blood.

[@carrier411]

i agree. did they seek legal advice?

[@SnowdoniaSkies]

These poor people went through hell, whilst the post office bosses got huge bonuses. Fair play to Alan and the others for sticking it out, and credit to ITV for brining the scandal to light.

[@cassandratq9301]

Bates has still not been compensated!

[@andym.6141]

This is David versus Goliath and right now there’s a large stone flying through the air moving very quickly and directly towards Goliath’s forehead.

[@FissionChips]

Goliath being Vennells scraggy forehead

[@Johnjoization]

Alan Bates is the finest example of “British intelligence”, honesty and integrity demonstrated by anyone I have seen questioned in the public post office scandal. Compare his clear, transparent, total recall of past events with those of Paula Vennells; who could not remember emails, documents, conversations; facts or figures. One was the CEO of a huge National public institution responsible for thousands of employees and millions of public money. If Alan Bates had held the role of CEO of the PO I am 100% certain, NONE of this truly awful miscarriages of justice against sub-postmasters would have occurred. Vennells and her multiple assailants should all face criminal action and be prosecuted ASAP.

[@stevecarter8810]

There's a long "I don't recall" section in the middle of this clip. Make me worry how this can be used to weaken the case

[@childofthe50s53]

This man's main advantage in this is that he presents as calm, organised, thorough and logical. Not raving or illogical.

[@Deck1ngUK]

Sir Alan Bates it should be, for all the crap he has had to put up with and his tireless work for justice over 20 years.

[@barbs574]

Everyone deserves justice, their money back, compensation and see those terrible demons go on trial and prosecution within a week and off to jail to do the same sentence those innocent folks served

[@andrewmccaffrey6548]

I think his honour and integrity is above that of the titled toffs, MP's and **rse lickers that get awarded the honor of a knighthood.

[@heartlocket91]

He’s got his knighthood. He is now Sir Alan Bates.

[@joannewilkinson3059]

We need lots of Alan Bates in all government departments, NHS, judiciary, Bank of England etc etc Well done Mr Bates.

[@johanr3580]

Alan Bates deserves a very substantial monetary reward, let’s say 10 times the total amount Paula Vennells received during her years at the post office.

[@helenjob]

As a child growing up in the 60's and 70's I'd always thought workers' unions were there to support the workers but in this case the Union seemed to be taking the part of the post office. Mr. Bates has shone through all this as a man of honour, honesty and integrity. I've wondered why, after many years of loyal, trouble free service, these post masters and post mistresses were suddenly deemed to be criminals and this after a new system had been it in place. Surely that should have rung alarm bells that something was wrong with it. It's unfathomable that those in charge of the post office should have heaped such misery upon these 'partners' when they knew there was something going wrong. The power of the organisation seems to have gone to their heads. Those in charge have now ruined any respect the public had for the P. O. Who would want to take on running a post office now? The damage is very deep.

[@stpfs9281]

Alan Bates said in this video that the Federation was pointless, the even had an office in the Post Office building.

[@johnjc4645]

I agree with you when you get 700 cases it should point to something is wrong. Why would the postmasters fiddle the books as they are responsible for any losses

[@Steve14ps]

@@johnjc4645 The Post Office management were 'on the fiddle', not necessarily collectively, they knew what was happening, but as the artificially inflated figures meant they received a bigger bonus they kept quiet. Such contempt

[@ticticboom1]

Mr Bates' intelligence shines through this interview. The Post Office clearly underestimated him, in trying to dismiss his assessment.

[@JohnLovesSpain]

Alan Bates deserves a substantial reward an compensation for his loss and subsequent work in seeking justice. Unfortunately the hierarchy of Post Office will be more likely to go to the House of Lords rather than their rightful prison cell. It's just the way this current government work unfortunately.

[@julierogers1155]

Mr. Alan Bates is NOT giving up.

[@laurieharper1526]

It's the way all governments work. The current lot are just carrying on as usual.

[@miracles4u]

And you think another 'government' will be better!?

[@David-j9h9g]

@@laurieharper1526 kind of agree..but this lot have just been more balant....as in DILLIGAF!!!!!

[@foylad4862]

----->ROYAL

[@happyhedgehog6450]

Alan seems to be wearing a frustration and anger resistance +1000 shirt. So present and articulate despite the immense and constant nonesense and dishonesty around him. I really admire him. He is a true role model for me.

[@seegee9927]

He has had a few years to be very angry, and probably still is, but continually showing it gets very tiring after a while both for the individual & those around them.

[@davidcronan4072]

Don't forget that this whole saga was all about "protecting the brand". There is a whole industry out there of lawyers and PR consultants whoes sole job is put the best light on dodgy companies and political regimes. This is what happened at the Post Office.

[@cassandratq9301]

At the P.O. it was elevated to an art form and remained unconnected to reality far longer than normally ocurrs.

[@abumstead1219]

I thoroughly the most significant thing that Alan B said was that he identified that the contract between POL & SPMs said that SPMs were required to repay shortages that SPMs were responsible for, and AB refused to repay the losses because he contended that far from being responsible, in fact it was the Horizon system that was responsible for the losses. Which has ultimately been shown to be the case! None of the other SPMs tried this tactic.

[@Atom-56]

This video, with Alan Bates has made me cry. Hearing this humble man, speak for the rights of all, who have been wronged, telling it how it is, with honesty, integrity and total justification. He highlighted how corporate companies have no regard for people with such quality’s and this culture of corruption and deceit is what working class people are up against in this day and age.

[@MrDavil43]

"Culture of corruption and deceit" is absolutely right and much is documented in the pages of Private Eye. This culture is everywhere and government and the professions cannot have anything they say taken at face value any more. Over the last few years even the medical profession has shown itself to be a participant in the misleading of the public.

[@zawarshah508]

Alan bates is a extremely decent man. He stood up and fought for justice. We don't have his like in parliament. He should stand as a independent against anyone he chooses to stand against He will win 🏆 .his a national asset .what a fantastic guy 👏 .humble and good sense of humour. Great intellect he was a threat to the post office management who were out to rob and cheat the postmasters and mistresses .all the people who have been complicit in sending people to prison and made them homeless and jobless. Must be put in prison for a very long time. And have all there assets taken away from them and given over to the people who have been hurt in this scandal. All the bonuses must be taken back from the post office management ASAP.

[@jerrygeorgopolis8015]

Alan Bates, You are Amazing !!!!!!!!!!

[@keithbuckley3220]

That has always been the PO answer "we carry the Royal Mail and we can do anything we like to ensure this". They have always considered themselves to be above the law because they carry ("THE ROYAL MAIL") and nothing they do will ever make them follow the LAW OF THE LAND.

[@johnjc4645]

The Royal mail and the PO are two different companies

[@markrichter2053]

Politicians in power responsible for these post office policies should be in prison for whey they did

[@homegrownpa]

A better day at work for Mr Beer, talking to a witness with a memory and a heart.

[@sadjaxx]

Mr Beer is excellent.

[@bernieatkinson8693]

Id say he used the most appropriate phrase to describe the Post Office investigators when he called them THUGS IN SUITS!

[@sheilamallett2741]

Succinct and memorable.

[@rpm412]

Mr B is a smart fella and had the balls to dig his heels in and fight back. Good for you mate; I've lost track of the number of times I've been brought to tears by tales that these poor sub-postmasters have told.

[@claredavies764]

I have to wonder why the Inquiry needs to continue. Everything has been proved. Fujitsu, Government, Post Office proven liars. Why not call a halt and just give justice and money to the wronged parties? Take the money from the shareholders and Fujitsu. No more tax payers money to be spent on this. Alan Bates is a hero

[@wickedwitchoftheeast88]

Thats what should happen but it won't. Fujitsu will be allowed to keep their millions their insurance will cover the payouts but it will come out of our taxes there's no way MP's including Sunak are gonna make Fujitsu and PO pay the subpostmasters out

[@alisonlyons4691]

Exactly!!! I was just thinking the same and going to write the same, thank you

[@throttlegalsmagazineaustra7361]

Because they've lied to the inquiry under oath, miscarried justice, subverted the law and committed fraud. The inquiry has to finish so it can recommend whether charges should be laid.

[@johnrowland3105]

Poor Bates has had to 'recall' so much of what he would choose to forget if only he was allowed to. It must be affecting his mental and physical wellbeing. It's an absolutely disgraceful state of affairs that this nonsense hasn't been wound up already and those affected significantly compensated. One wonders, if this inquiry has any teeth; trust or integrity left, whether they'll pursue senior management; Lawyers and political heads with the same vigour and determination.

[@rev.waynet.oleary7387]

Interesting that when you tell the truth your mind is clear and sharp. Compare this dear man, Mr Bates to post offifce bosses who squirm and know nothing. Mr Bates is a special man...

[@mrsandman4397]

THE UK NEEDS MORE PEOPLE OF THE CALIBRE of ALAN BATES!!

[@AEKarys]

I've attended an inquiry in person as a member of the public. The barristers representing the subpostmasters are incredible!

[@northdevonpictures826]

Between 1999 and 2015, over 900 subpostmasters were convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting based on faulty Horizon data. And POL's behaviour appears to have been sanctioned by government. Post Office Limited seems to have been run by thugs for a couple of decades - how many of those thugs will be jailed? In 2003, our next door neighbours running the local post office were convicted and jailed. Nobody accepted they were actually guilty of anything including the two that were jailed.

[@cassandratq9301]

900?? I had no idea it was that many!

[@misstortitude]

Mr Bates is an incredible witness, I hope he sees justice

[@googlestinx]

Sadly some employees commited suicide. RIP😢

[@50brian50]

Just need the PPE scandal now out in the open

[@mikeyoung7660]

Yes, we haven't heard much from Baroness mone lately

[@shooglies]

What a man? Straight talker, no bullshit, just gets the job done. There are actually plenty of good people like this in this country, but not a single one in Parliament unfortunately.

[@ashearera]

Jason Beer is a legend

[@tricovthelite4234]

A calm unassuming man who had the internal fortitude to say 'no' when he knew something was fundamentally wrong, Those career politicians who sit ideally by in the house of commons year on year towing the party line, and following the party whip all in the hope that it will get them '4 more years' should look at this man and then have a good look inside themselves...

[@fireskycam9889]

All of the Post Office executives must be stripped of Titles and Privileges

[@peterah7957]

So much respect for him....Anyone who has been treated badly by management know what it's like to feel like your banging your head against a brick wall!

[@peterteagleteagle9958]

BLAIR was told before it was rolled out, that it was not ready

[@MybestLucky]

Mr Bates I don’t know how you kept up your strength of purpose during the decades of disgrace by these lyin criminals.

[@schuey089]

That man is a HERO!!! Kudos to him!

[@kevinmcguire6774]

This scandal CLEARLY demonstrates the very LOW-CALIBRE of ‘management’ both within the ‘public’ sector and the privatised utilities!

[@stephenreeds3632]

I'm still dumbfounded how these people starting with Vennells... who tried to become a priest.. get their jobs?

[@peterbennett5910]

If Alan was employed by the PO at head office none of this would have happened

[@melvinpenman1102]

Alan bates is a Hero and needs rewarded for saving the country millions and identifying the issues. Unfortunately the Tories and their ilk will hate him

[@5556665012008]

Alan Bates should be in charge of the post office, hell, I'd start using it

[@bendenisereedy7865]

I had a very junior job in an IT company doing work for the government at the time this was all happening. I was instructed that when data didn't run without errors I should just create data so as to make everything work cleanly. That was the culture in IT

[@dawnalleyne5806]

Set up a go fund me Mr Bates. My family is ready to contribute, time for the thugs to go to jail.

[@susanturner6811]

When i saw the advertisement for Mr bates vs the post office. The first thing i said was this will set the wheels in motion. I find it so hard to believe that no newspapers covered this properly. Without thie series and Alan who has been fighting for years to get justice for the little people, it would have been yet again swept under the carpet. Get the people who are guilty and have known from day one, that the system was faulty and they actually changed the figures themselves and put them in jail. People who were innocent were sent to jail, now send the guilty ones. Please don't keep saying it's compensation because it's not it's money they paid back to the PO that wasn't rightful theirs. These little people have been through enough.

[@cassandratq9301]

100%!

[@leonhughes134]

As long as there are people like this remarkable gentleman, we shall be free.

[@newmie01]

We need to see Royal Mail and Fujitsu staff involved in the coverup held accountable

[@raymondbonington9355]

Post office not Royal Mail,

[@anncoombs8610]

Take a bow Alan Bates! 🇨🇦

[@jacksyful]

without AB the po would have got away with their disgusting / criminal behaviour. After this inquiry there needs to be arrests of all the people involved and they need to co to court ,charged and sent to prison!!

[@dorothyblair6741]

Not only would they have got away with it, there would have been no reason for them not to continue ruining people's lives.

[@SkillBuilder]

Enough, enough, Alan Bates should not be in this position all these years later He has acted with honesty and honour and he has spent fat too much of his life on this and needs to be paid out and left to enjoy some peace. His time spent on this case must be worth more than the lawyers who prosecuted all those innocent people.

[@mikeellis4345]

Alan Bates giving evidence is clear decisive well spoken and confident. Unlike almost every other witness previously seated in this inquiry.. except for the arrogant legal smart arsery of the KC witness I’ve seen. Quite the contrast.. hmmm

[@MrJonnyfied]

The poor go straight to jail. The rich and poweful get an inquiry.

[@cassandratq9301]

The poor ho straight to jail even when innocent.

[@Coneman3]

Instead of state honours, we need the people’s honours and this guy needs one.

[@ralphplumb7027]

What a dignified and lucid set of answers he gave to this derisory set of questions about an assessment of his performance from a bunch of ignorant corporate bullys !!!

[@davidmccarter9479]

Can’t work out if this is George Orwell or Frank Kafka , I need to reread 1984 and The Trial. This evidence is really concerning. Is our civil service all like this?

[@dorothyblair6741]

Probably

[@Woke_White_Woman]

It is so appalling how all the Post Masters, male and female, all the families and particularly those who were imprisoned, unjustly financially penalised, lost everything they had which included their Homes, their Reputations, their Health and their Lives, were treated An apology, an acknowledgment that they were wronged and compensation for their loss and pain & suffering will never make up for the monumental nature of their hardship but it will be a start But it looks like the Post Office and everyone connected to this Horizon Scandal, including Government officials past and present are determined never to acknowledge that they did anything wrong and just as determined to sabotage this Inquiry

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

'One man who stopped lying could bring down a tyranny.' ~ Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

[@joanneramsden1514]

Thank you Mr bates for your bravery standing up for the subpostmasters against the post office. A true case of David and Goliath

[@laphelps1]

We need more people like this man. Bravo 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@andreia.salsinha]

That last remark... a post master escorted out the back by the federation for speaking up on Horizon problems... It's like a scene from a bad 90's corporate movie, unreal! People need to go to prison for this.

[@KaldekBoch]

As an Infosec professional, I want to know where the CISO is. The security team (unless incompetent) always knows what's going on in IT systems.

[@YolandaCarden]

My father was a senior engineer at the Post Office, just below the board level but deputising for his boss on the board, as required. This was before privatisation and all staff and board received civil service salary grades. These were decent pay grades but a tiny fraction of what these board members were and are receiving. I met many of my father's Post Office colleagues and they were conservative (small c) in their work & business ethics. Nothing like this scandal could ever have happened at that time. They believed that they worked for a public service.

[@GeeEmJay]

Alan Bates should be awarded Vennel's CBE!

[@FONASDeadlock]

Imagine the full, complete, direct and indirect cost of this whole shameful episode all due to the type of basic IT error I deal with every day in my day job.

[@anthonywilson8998]

Hen Tony Blair knew there were problems with horizon the whole thing was known to be defective. From then on everything had to be covered up. Many people knew but not that Fujitsu was able to steal money to make losses where there were none. Many knew this but nothing was done.

[@PandyBong]

Was it “defective” though? I thought it was down right malicious. They wanted to rob these people.

[@miracles4u]

Tony Blair. Say no more.........

[@TheShikaina]

Well done Mr Bates 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@philiphall8325]

The post office is a great example of how an entitled establishment works. They always shoot the messenger if bad news

[@jillreynolds7619]

If anyone deserves to be a ‘Sir’ it is Mr Bates.

[@Currabell]

The injustice is shocking. Why the appalling delay in getting these wronged people substantial compensation?

[@cassandratq9301]

GREAT QUESTION!

[@bernardgooch4308]

Funny how at the start pol call him alan or mr bates later he is refered to as bates . That speaks volumes

[@colinmiller8361]

How arrogant of the PO, that in all the correspondence where Alan is mentioned, they all call him 'Bates'. No respect for him and obviously anyone else who stands up for their rights against the PO. Boycott the PO when ever you can.

[@doubledigital_]

honestly im not stuck for words but watching this.. just wow. wow.

[@johnallan7705]

Nfsa were about as much use as a chocolate fireguard then. No surprises there.

[@andydudley1775]

a back up for .P.O. to calude people into thinking they had a safety net for protection was just another grift by P.O. Dropped out at the 11 hour for best desired effect .i bet a lot of us have seen this before.

[@peterbennett5910]

Vennells had been led into temptation to steal postmasters money to pay her self bonuses

[@kathykay9920]

Crowd fund for justice Alan. My cheque book is ready