Post Office campaigner Alan Bates knighted in King's Birthday Honours

Alan Bates, the campaigner who uncovered the Post Office scandal, has been awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
Mr Bates previously rejected the offer of an OBE last year because former Post Office boss Paula Vennells had been given a CBE - but she's since been stripped of the title.
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[@sunilg121]

Well deserved. Justice for the post masters.

[@suziejames7510]

Couldn't have happened to a more deserving man, Arise Sir Alan .

[@dadangus100]

wonder how vile vicar vennelle feels that a honest man has been awarded a Khighthood and she tried to crush him. with cruel and illegal acts

[@dismalfist]

She doesn't care, more interested in the bonuses and investments she's made from defrauding SPMs.

[@robertnewton6454]

Brilliant news Fully deserved Alan is a great man and a inspiration for everyone Fighting for justice

[@MaulaJatt786]

Excellent, God Save The King ! Now we need convictions and imprisonment for all those who perpetrated this heinous crime ! AND recompense for all those postmasters who suffered ! The PO executives are a disgrace !

[@OneEyedDronie]

I'm 59 and lived long enough to have seen so many people being Knighted for things that simply didn't make sense to me. Sir Alan Bates makes a whole LOT of sense!

[@viviliciousvivaviousness]

Great to see a man with integrity and moral fibre receiving recognition.

[@martindoman7315]

The contrast between Sir Alan and the devious individuals giving evidence to the enquiry is striking.

[@jonathandgibson8]

Well deserved! The state giving some recognition at last! And well done Sky. Excellent interview!!

[@Gilan4983]

Personally I think he should be given a seat in the Lords. He is exactly the kind of person who should be making the laws instead of a bunch of political appointees

[@keith8609]

Well deserved 👏

[@rogersmith1736]

well deserved knighthood for a great man, the next thing is for prison sentances for the crooks of the post office

[@stevesteve2837]

sadly it wont happen

[@Knightley79]

@@stevesteve2837they’ll b accountability no question. Metropolitan police have just widened their investigation to a now nation wide investigation. There has already been clear evidence of perjury in at least two instances and several instances of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and possible even corporate manslaughter. Don’t forget this is the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history so big pressure on the authorities.

[@johnboy5736]

I'm delighted to hear this. Fantastic man and his wife. I have been asking people for months to campaign for SIR Alan to get a Knight hood. Congratulations. John.

[@AllanTudor]

Wonderful humble man his language is so inclusive not me

[@minzy421]

United we stand, justice for all

[@mikeellis4345]

Jo Hamilton and Lee Castleton as deserving too? MBE’s for all of them that have been through the hell inflicted on them by POL . And rapid full compensation too.

[@TheLadrowski]

Best news ever. Good for him and the most worthy knighthood for him and the rest of the postmasters. Arise sir Alan Bates.

[@peterpower6397]

Alan is going to be the new face of justice for the down trodden. Well done Lad

[@alunjones2550]

It was appalling that Paula Vennells was ever awarded an honour but even more disgusting is the fact that knowing full well how incompetent she'd been in her role at the Post Office, she still accepted it.

[@RFW423]

Absolutely a spot on decision - could not have been more deserved by anyone in our time.

[@Indianabones007]

We can see now what kind of people he was up against, a great human being and for once somebody that deserves this ❤️

[@Jmcc150]

A deserved award for hard work to help others. Not, as others have done, for simply making a donation to a political party. Reform the honours system, including the House of Lords, but do not abolish them. We need a method of public recognition, just as the Army needs medals, for going far beyond normal behaviour in a good cause.

[@markcox5385]

Make him a lord. We need people like him in the upper house!

[@richmondene0413]

that way he will make political connections forceing the goverment of the day to continue his efforts to bring the wrong doers to justice. lets wait and see what the WYNN report recommends. they hand better not escape.

[@HometownUnicorn]

Although it's great that he has a neighthood, but there should be justice and people in prison on this day

[@22Phantasm]

If, as they've said on numerous occasions, the PO were willing to do 'everything they can' to help the SPMs then they would have made the compensation scheme much quicker and fairer. Instead they are using expensive and negative lawyers to offer minimal amounts. Bates has already refused two offers! That's how truly evil the PO is.

[@Tony-hx7bm]

Hope to see a Christmas episode in Mr.Bates vs the Post Office

[@johnlowe-tq6ey]

Great idea

[@Simon-im2zn]

The sequel would most probably be Mr Bates vs The Post Amnesia. Correction Sir Alan Bates vs The Post Amnesia

[@johnlowe-tq6ey]

This whole ridiculous saga has destroyed so many people...corporate creeps can face Alan as sir now.

[@andyh3873]

About time the system really recognises true men and women of honour. Congrats to Sir Alan and Lady Suzanne!

[@waynedavies5569]

The knighthood is thoroughly well deserved for a modest, hardworking man who keeps fighting for truth and justice in this horrendous corporate scandal.

[@shirleyn546]

A well deserved honour. Keep up the good fight Sir Alan!

[@carrier411]

Go Alan. definitely poetic justice receiving a King' Birthday Honours title after Vennells handed hers back.

[@claudgurr431]

Congratulations Sir Alan. He deserves to be honoured every bit as much as Paula Vennels didn't.

[@pat4brown]

I hope she’s doing penance now. Shame on her.

[@claudgurr431]

@@pat4brown She needn't do penance. Giving up ALL her assets to compensate the victims of her criminal activity should be enough to make her properly sorry.

[@pat4brown]

@@claudgurr431 yes she should be made to give up all her money, bonuses, pension, the lot. But as a CoE Minister she has to answer to God and for that she needs to do penance. She’s a disgrace.

[@claudgurr431]

@@pat4brown I don't see how doing penance to an imagined deity would help anyone.

[@markgoscinski3509]

About time !!! , hope Edward Henry , Sam Stein and Jason Beer (all KC's ) should be next for their amazing due diligence and professionalism in their work at the inquiry

[@kathykay9920]

Fabulous man. Let's hope he gets real justice

[@AndymacUK]

A well deserved recognition for Alan Bates - what a thoroughly decent person. I am still waiting for an answer as to where the "stolen money" is? As the post office managers submitted the correct amounts then the money was "lost" within the head office! Was it the intention of insider fraudsters to perpetuate this crime from the beginning and to blame the post office managers by stealing relatively small amounts at a time? The suggestion that the computerised system was to blame is a great excuse for any online fraud!

[@chrislambert9435]

They did "want to close Post Offices throughout the UK" so this may be the reason

[@janeday9148]

The Honours System has been very damaged Vennells, Mona of the PPE scandals & others ,so possibly this will help reform the whole thing, so well done Sir Alan

[@T5Zplayer]

Has Mone been prosecuted? Can you link the evidence as didn't know she had even be charged?

[@stephenbuffery180]

Now pay them thier money. Rapid

[@margaretburley3256]

“People have gotten it the right way ‘round” Cheers!🎉 From Worcester, Massachusetts USA

[@martinjohncassidyCASSIDY]

Should be the prime minister he would get my vote. Sure he would sort this countrys mess out.

[@janmitchell641]

Congratulations, Sir Alan! This is so well deserved and such good timing!

[@fireskycam9889]

Totally deserved Sir Alan

[@soapytowel1565]

Great news for Sir Alan but for Justices sake “show me the money”. After hearing/watching the videos of the inquiry I can’t wait for the inevitable criminal prosecutions just to see if these post office managers will have something else to say apart from “I can’t recall”

[@johngraham6181]

I bet he would have preferred all his cash back and the compensation for all the others. But well done Sir Alan.

[@mirjamwillemsen900]

If someone in the UK deserves knighthood, it is Mr. Alan Bates!! The world needs so many more people like him.

[@nicksportster8711]

If the King can recognise there has been misjustice and a cover up by the Post Office ‘wrong doers’ then surely criminal convictions will follow. We can only hope…..

[@richmondene0413]

private prosecutions must follow to win back public support after wynn reports. BATES should launch through national newspapers a crowd dfunding for private prosecutions.

[@debramckay4611]

So well deserved. ♥️🙏🇬🇧

[@dj6259]

Congratulations Mr Bates.

[@cndns2]

Bravo and well deserved. Sir Alan's fight against POL, and everyone else complicit in this travesty against justice, is to be commended.

[@serginosartori6367]

well deserved he should run the post office he would do a better job

[@johnamckay1]

Bloody Brilliant and so well deserved! What a good man….

[@cynicalrecidivist2026]

Well deserved. Go get 'em Sir Alan. 🎉

[@PaulForeman-indievisuals]

So Sir Alan is now actually more Royal than the Fooking Post Office!!

[@integralevideo]

Brilliant. Well deserved.

[@johnbooth936]

knight of truth and honor well done sir

[@graemeferguson3243]

What a hero and modest with it. A well deserved honour. 👏

[@alidabaxter5849]

First time in ages that someone has been awarded a knighthood who really deserved it. I'm so thrilled for him.

[@petercarter4252]

Congratulations Sir Alan, now all that needs to be done is the wronged Sub Postmasters to be compensated and the bonuses returned by the disgraceful ex managers at the The Post Office

[@Kit2Canada]

Superb!

[@marienorman3731]

An HONOURABLE man, I am delighted⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@jesss6225]

Best news I’ve heard all day. He deserves it. I wish they’d make him a Lord so he would have a say in politics

[@15mmGustavus]

Mr Bates vs The post office is up there as one of the greatest mini series of all time.

[@keithreed5009]

Most deserved knighthood ever 👏

[@stevesteve2837]

Alan Bates...finally an award to someone who actually deserves it. Not a sportsperson or useless celebrity or politician who made the UK bankrupt. The system needs a total overhaul.

[@marymorgan1498]

Well done. I am putting myself forward as chair person of the Honours Committee

[@michaelpalmer4013]

At last some light appears over this dimly lit land.

[@roddersfiftynine]

Well done Sir and Lady Bates. Well deserved. National treasures, like ALL our postmasters and mistresses.

[@kquat7899]

For once, someone who actually deserves and has earned it.

[@tracyalice2117]

Congratulations Alan! Well deserved! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@JoannaCarter-km8uu]

Thank God for this man. At least the truth is out. Well deserved.

[@camf7522]

Good to see.

[@renukaviswanathan454]

Ironic. Paula Vennells's honour replaced by this. He did his duty as a citizen. To his fellow citizens and to the organisation.

[@tullochgorum6323]

This is rather disorienting - it seems that the establishment has done something sensible for a change. Let's hope that it's a first step towards meaningful compensation and justice.

[@roybeattie296]

Alway BEEN a Lady .................Top people

[@chrishaps6846]

Fantastic . Rather well timed as well.

[@Purp7eMu2ic]

Very much deserved

[@GwynGerrig]

What a lovely couple 👌

[@JohnJones-wo1bc]

I would like to see Alan Bates in the House of Lords. I would want him campaigning for me all day every day!

[@jonathanwalsh1206]

One of the few people who actually deserves a Knighthood.

[@paulbird3235]

BIG business crush SMALL people, and always WILL. Justice for all of these Post Masters. This process MUST NOT be another Hillsbrough or Grenfell, it MUST now move quickly. Get to it KIER.

[@SkandiaAUS]

Faith in doing the right thing restored.

[@Stevelong-x9s]

This man deserves the Knight hood plus a lot more. Justice needs to prevail. ❤

[@kinorspielmann4649]

Big deal. What does that change? The honours system is corrupt too!

[@Davesgripe]

What a great team, two of the very few real people that absolutely deserves this honour along with their undying love, help and support of each other. What a beautiful world it could be without the greed of these corporate elites.

[@jonmassey5619]

Fujitsu knew the system was to blame but ignored this fact and sat back while more were convicted... They should be financially bankrupted for this travesty.

[@Saavvvv]

Thoroughly well deserved, Sir Alan.

[@edwardhart5466]

So,So well deserved, the amount of work this gent put into it was horrendous , otherwise this dreadful miscarriage of justice could well of still been hidden.

[@kingfornjot]

He still hasn't been given any compensation yet what's that all about totally disgusting

[@stevieC616]

If everybody was like Sir Alan then the world would be a much better place

[@robertmclean5356]

Still no one punished. Outrageous.

[@lovelyskull3483]

Incredible couple.

[@nickturner4401]

The man of the century.an example to all of us.well done.nick turner

[@David_Bower]

He certainly deserves an award, but the people who gave him this knighthood are the exact same people who did their damnedest to keep this scandal swept under the carpet all these years. He should have turned it down, he doesn't need to be seen as a part of their club.

[@T5Zplayer]

A lie

[@sausagembape677]

​@@T5Zplayerwhat?

[@T5Zplayer]

@@sausagembape677 Give me strength.........the assertion that the Honours Committee had anything to do with PO scandal is a lie. And frankly childish. Hope I didn't use too many big words for you.

[@davidlynch9049]

I don't think that would be correct.

[@DH-uq1zw]

Good

[@T5Zplayer]

Well deserved

[@janisrisch4087]

Alan, best wishes from across the Pond!

[@Mark-on2mt]

Great man, well deserved

[@jane-gz1oo]

oh so happy about this.......I hope this means that he gets the chance to serve the country in a higher capacity

[@James_Bowie]

Good to see a gong going to a deserving person.

[@robc3586]

At last somebody who actually deserves a knighthood instead of the usual politicians & luvvies.

[@mikedavis-kp1sx]

I just hope he has not sold himself short.