The Great Post Office Trial

18. Now What?


Listen Later

2024 was the year when the Post Office's victimisation of sub-postmasters became a ubiquitous national story, after the airing of an ITV Drama. "Mr Bates vs the Post Office" was viewed by more than 10 million people, and brought political momentum to the resolution of the ongoing injustices associated with the scandal. Before the election, the government passed landmark legislation to cut through the achingly slow judicial process and speedily overturn hundreds of convictions in one fell swoop. It was a major victory for Sub Postmasters and campaigners - but does it mean the scandal is over?

In a new episode of "The Great Post Office Trial", Nick Wallis goes behind the scenes of the efforts to get that legislation passed, hearing from the then Justice secretary and Post Office minister on the complex negotiations against the clock that got it through. And he also hears about the key compromise that helped reduce criticism from the judiciary - but has left some convicted sub-postmasters still out in the cold.

He also explores the question of accountability at the top, as the police investigation grinds on, revisiting the evidence given by former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells, which was pushed out of the news cycle by the announcement of the election.

And he hears from Sub Postmasters who are still frustrated by the pace and quantity of compensation payments, as more victims of this scandal continue to be put through the ringer in pursuit of the compensation the government has promised; he puts their concerns to Gareth Thomas MP, who has taken over since the election as the minister responsible, and Neil Brocklehurst, the Post Office's interim CEO.

Producer: Robert Nicholson

Executive Producer: Will Yates
Sound Design: Emma Barnaby
Research: Artemis Irvine

A Whistledown Production for BBC Radio 4.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Great Post Office TrialBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

36 ratings


More shows like The Great Post Office Trial

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,583 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,057 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,463 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,801 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,747 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,042 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,085 Listeners

Background Briefing by ABC

Background Briefing

69 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,187 Listeners

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford by Pushkin Industries

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

5,153 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

719 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,029 Listeners

British Scandal by Wondery

British Scandal

2,511 Listeners

Deep Water | Tortoise Investigates by The Observer

Deep Water | Tortoise Investigates

3,412 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

823 Listeners

The Birth Keepers | The Guardian Investigates by The Guardian

The Birth Keepers | The Guardian Investigates

297 Listeners

Intrigue by BBC Radio 4

Intrigue

173 Listeners

The History Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast

65 Listeners

Shadow World by BBC Radio 4

Shadow World

32 Listeners

Titanic: Ship of Dreams by NOISER

Titanic: Ship of Dreams

978 Listeners

No One Saw It Coming by ABC

No One Saw It Coming

111 Listeners

Jane Austen Stories by NOISER

Jane Austen Stories

292 Listeners

Adrift by Apple TV / Blanchard House

Adrift

681 Listeners

Sick to Death by The Australian

Sick to Death

304 Listeners