Cumbrian MPs respond to the announcement that hundreds of innocent postmasters who were wrongfully convicted due to the Horizon scandal will have their names cleared.

The blanket exoneration will overturn hundreds of convictions, brought about thanks to erroneous Horizon evidence, clearing the names of many people who have had their lives ruined.

Penrith and the Border MP, Dr Neil Hudson said: “I am so pleased that the Government has acted decisively and compassionately on this dreadful miscarriage of justice.

“Those postmasters and postmistresses who were wrongly accused are finally receiving the support they need and I hope this provides all of those affected reassurance.

“I know this has been an issue not only my constituents have been passionate about, but also folk right across the country, and I was honoured to be able to be in the Chamber when the Prime Minister and then the Postal Affairs Minister delivered this important news.

“I fully welcome this and look forward to supporting this legislation through Parliament.”

While Mark Jenkinson, the MP for Workington and Carlisle MP John Stevenson shared the Prime Minister’s social media post.

Simon Fell Barrow and Furness MP shared the Prime Minister’s message but added his own having dealt with one of the convicted postmasters: “Very welcome news. Exonerating those sub-postmasters who were wrongly convicted is absolutely the right thing to do. The victims deserve justice and this new law will deliver it.”

The Government has committed to making sure these convictions are overturned later this year, meaning victims do not need to wait years and years for the justice they deserve.

Once this legislation is passed and convictions have been quashed, individuals will be entitled to at least £600,000 in compensation to rebuild their lives.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in this country’s history, with hundreds of people having their lives ruined and reputations dragged through mud.

“Too many still have wrongful convictions tied to their name, and we cannot continue to fail them.

“We must do everything we can to exonerate and compensate these innocent people, and make sure they finally get the justice they deserve.”

The government has also confirmed that it will take action to make sure the postmasters who played a crucial role in first exposing the Horizon scandal receive the compensation they deserve.  

These individuals – also known as the Group Litigation Order cohort – who did not receive a criminal conviction but paid out considerable sums of money because of the Horizon failures, will receive at least £75,000 in compensation upfront.

The government will also consult the independent Advisory Board on the approach to compensation payments, to see if there are further steps we can take to hold the Post Office to account and speed up payments for everyone impacted by the scandal.

Sir Wyn Williams’ Inquiry, set up in 2020 to look at issues of governance in the Post Office, will continue its vital work and provide a full public record of how this miscarriage of justice was able to take place.

In the coming days, the government will consider whether this blanket exoneration should apply to the small number of convictions which have been upheld by the appeal courts.  

The government recognises that this Bill may lead to the overturning of some convictions that were rightfully brought. In line with the wishes of some of the victims, the government will therefore introduce safeguards to make sure anyone who was rightly convicted, and is now trying to take advantage of compensation schemes, can be prosecuted in the future.

Legislation will apply to England and Wales only. Conversations with other UK jurisdictions remain ongoing.