UK
Miners’ Strike 1984 viewers draw parallels with Mr Bates Vs the Post OfficeViewers of the Channel 4 documentary were outraged to learn the events of the Battle of Orgreave and called for a public enquiry.
Albertina Lloyd
·Contributor
Updated Thu, 1 February 2024
Viewers were shocked and outraged by Channel 4 documentary Miners Strike 1984: Battle of Britain (Getty Images)
What did you miss?
Viewers of Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle for Britain drew parallels between the documentary and recent docu-drama Mr Bates Vs the Post Office.
The Channel 4 series marking the 40th anniversary of the miners strikes left many viewers outraged to learn the events of the Battle of Orgreave and called for a public enquiry. Several saw similarities between the perjury of police officers who exaggerated the violence of the miners and the injustice experienced by the 700 sub-postmasters falsely prosecuted in the Horizon scandal.
What, how, and why?
Viewers drew parallels with the injustices in Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. (ITV)
The second episode of the three-part documentary looked back at events that took place during the Battle of Orgreave in South Yorkshire in June 1984 when there were violent clashes between the police and the picketers. In June 1991, the South Yorkshire Police paid £425,000 in compensation to 39 miners for assault, wrongful arrest, unlawful detention and malicious prosecution. It has since been called a brutal example of legalised state violence.
Several viewers compared the injustice to the 700 sub-postmasters falsely prosecuted between 2000 and 2014 of of theft, fraud and false accounting based on incorrect information from the Post Office's Horizon computer system. Their story was recently highlighted in ITV drama Mr Bates Vs the Post Office starring Toby Jones as trailblazer Alan Bates.
Ranks of police face the picketing line outside Orgreave Coking Plant near Rotherham. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
One viewer wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter: "It's like the post office saga, it makes you so angry, all these people lying. Like Hillsborough. #minersstrike"
Another declared: "The government finally did something about the Post Office Scandal after a TV drama. Can guarantee they won’t do anything about Orgreave after this C4 doc. #MinersStrike" And another commented: "It’s about time there was a public enquiry into the miners strike. The biggest cover up in British history. Anyone would think they are hoping all the miners have passed before the truth comes out !!" Another said: "Absolutely obvious we need a full inquiry into what happened at #Orgreave - disgusting lies from the police and cover up by the establishment #MinersStrike @orgreavejustice"
Many were shocked to learn about the brutality of the events for the first time. One tweeted: "#MinersStrikeHard watch on Orgreave on Ch 4. Shameful chapter in Britain's history. A disgrace."
Another posted: "Terrifying and shocking watching 'The Battle of Orgreave' on #MinersStrike doc. Police brutality. Corruption. Another stain on British history." And a third shared: "The miners’ strike is perhaps the most profoundly shameful period of this country’s 20th century history #MinersStrike #channel4"
And many praised the documentary. One wrote: "This miners’ strike documentary on C4 is a spectacular piece of work." Another agreed: "#MinersStrike compulsive viewing - wish this was longer than a 3 part documentary @Channel4"
Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle for Britain, airs continues at 9pm on Thursday, 8 February.
Read more: Mr Bates Vs the Post Office
Mr Bates vs The Post Office star Will Mellor on apology to victims: ‘Talk is cheap’ (BANG Showbiz, 2 min read)
Real-life Mr Bates opens up on Post Office scandal in ITV drama (Independent, 1 min read)
Mr Bates vs The Post Office confirms record-breaking viewing figures (Digital Spy, 2 min read)
What happened to the sub-postmasters on Mr Bates vs The Post Office? (Yahoo UK, 6 min read)
No 10 angers Alan Bates with claim he was offered ‘fair’ Horizon compensation
Dominic Penna
Thu, 1 February 2024
Alan Bates has spent two decades in search of justice after being wrongfully accused of fraud - Alamy
Downing Street has come under fire over its compensation for Post Office Horizon scandal victims after it insisted Alan Bates was offered a “fair” deal.
Mr Bates, a former sub-postmaster who has fought a two-decade battle for justice, has said he will turn down a “cruel” and “derisory” payout offer that he claims was only around a sixth of the sum that he requested.
The Telegraph understands Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, was saddened to hear his comments and called a meeting with Kevin Hollinrake, the postal minister, to look into the matter further.
Mr Bates, whose story inspired Mr Bates vs The Post Office – a recent ITV drama that sparked fresh public outcry – was forced to stop running his branch in 2003.
He is one of hundreds of sub-postmasters to have been affected by Horizon, a faulty Fujitsu accounting system that made it seem as though money was missing from their businesses.
Asked about the offer made to Mr Bates, a government spokesman said on Thursday: “We pay tribute to the incredible campaign that Alan has led and his determination to get justice for the thousands of innocent postmasters affected by this scandal.
“However, the financial compensation scheme has been designed to treat everyone affected fairly and equally.”
But in a sign that his compensation could yet be increased, a source close to Mrs Badenoch said: “We will make sure Mr Bates gets the compensation he deserves.”
Responding to No 10’s remarks on Thursday evening, Mr Bates noted most Horizon victims were still waiting to hear back about their compensation claims.
“If Rishi [Sunak] has said that I should get what I deserve, then he should just pay it and stop arguing with me,” he said.
“I’m not just singling out the politicians, but also the bureaucrats who are handling this process.”
On Thursday night, MPs from across the political spectrum urged Downing Street to rethink its response.
Nadhim Zahawi, a Conservative MP and former chancellor, said: “Mr Bates and his fellow sub-postmasters have waited too long to receive the justice they deserve, so we have an even greater duty to ensure that they are compensated in full.
“A great deal of this duty falls on Fujitsu. They should be coming forward with considerable financial remedy now, rather than waiting until the inquiry is over. I would urge the Government to look at the matter of Mr Bates’s compensation again.”
Kevan Jones, a Labour member of the Horizon compensation advisory board, called on ministers to “speed up the compensation and ensure offers are made that aren’t an insult”.
‘Rectify this heartless response’
Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrats’ Cabinet Office spokesman, added: “The Government has known since the High Court ruling in 2019 that postmasters such as Alan Bates deserved compensation, and they should have moved heaven and earth to pay out.
“Instead, they have dragged their heels. A minister should rectify this heartless response immediately.”
It came as the number of Horizon convictions quashed passed 100 on Thursday as Allen Reynolds, Nilufar Ali and Davinder Bangay were all cleared of convictions for fraud or theft.
Jo Hamilton, a former sub-postmaster, had to challenge her claim twice. She ended up receiving more than three times what she was originally offered.
The 66-year-old was accused of stealing £36,000 from her Post Office in South Warnborough and pleaded guilty to false accounting in 2008 to avoid going to prison.
Ms Hamilton said: “It makes me furious that they are treating people like Alan, myself and other sub-postmasters like this. They will end up spending more taxpayers’ money on trying to fight challenges from people like myself.”
Christopher Head, who was blamed for a shortfall of £88,500 at his Post Office branch, has received an offer under one-sixth of what he requested.
Mr Head, who is now 36, told The Telegraph: “The purpose of this scheme was meant to put sub-postmasters in a position where they would have been had the scandal not happened.
“If that’s the case then they clearly haven’t followed through with their principles by offering us such small sums.”
Dominic Penna
Thu, 1 February 2024
Alan Bates has spent two decades in search of justice after being wrongfully accused of fraud - Alamy
Downing Street has come under fire over its compensation for Post Office Horizon scandal victims after it insisted Alan Bates was offered a “fair” deal.
Mr Bates, a former sub-postmaster who has fought a two-decade battle for justice, has said he will turn down a “cruel” and “derisory” payout offer that he claims was only around a sixth of the sum that he requested.
The Telegraph understands Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, was saddened to hear his comments and called a meeting with Kevin Hollinrake, the postal minister, to look into the matter further.
Mr Bates, whose story inspired Mr Bates vs The Post Office – a recent ITV drama that sparked fresh public outcry – was forced to stop running his branch in 2003.
He is one of hundreds of sub-postmasters to have been affected by Horizon, a faulty Fujitsu accounting system that made it seem as though money was missing from their businesses.
Asked about the offer made to Mr Bates, a government spokesman said on Thursday: “We pay tribute to the incredible campaign that Alan has led and his determination to get justice for the thousands of innocent postmasters affected by this scandal.
“However, the financial compensation scheme has been designed to treat everyone affected fairly and equally.”
But in a sign that his compensation could yet be increased, a source close to Mrs Badenoch said: “We will make sure Mr Bates gets the compensation he deserves.”
Responding to No 10’s remarks on Thursday evening, Mr Bates noted most Horizon victims were still waiting to hear back about their compensation claims.
“If Rishi [Sunak] has said that I should get what I deserve, then he should just pay it and stop arguing with me,” he said.
“I’m not just singling out the politicians, but also the bureaucrats who are handling this process.”
On Thursday night, MPs from across the political spectrum urged Downing Street to rethink its response.
Nadhim Zahawi, a Conservative MP and former chancellor, said: “Mr Bates and his fellow sub-postmasters have waited too long to receive the justice they deserve, so we have an even greater duty to ensure that they are compensated in full.
“A great deal of this duty falls on Fujitsu. They should be coming forward with considerable financial remedy now, rather than waiting until the inquiry is over. I would urge the Government to look at the matter of Mr Bates’s compensation again.”
Kevan Jones, a Labour member of the Horizon compensation advisory board, called on ministers to “speed up the compensation and ensure offers are made that aren’t an insult”.
‘Rectify this heartless response’
Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrats’ Cabinet Office spokesman, added: “The Government has known since the High Court ruling in 2019 that postmasters such as Alan Bates deserved compensation, and they should have moved heaven and earth to pay out.
“Instead, they have dragged their heels. A minister should rectify this heartless response immediately.”
It came as the number of Horizon convictions quashed passed 100 on Thursday as Allen Reynolds, Nilufar Ali and Davinder Bangay were all cleared of convictions for fraud or theft.
Jo Hamilton, a former sub-postmaster, had to challenge her claim twice. She ended up receiving more than three times what she was originally offered.
The 66-year-old was accused of stealing £36,000 from her Post Office in South Warnborough and pleaded guilty to false accounting in 2008 to avoid going to prison.
Ms Hamilton said: “It makes me furious that they are treating people like Alan, myself and other sub-postmasters like this. They will end up spending more taxpayers’ money on trying to fight challenges from people like myself.”
Christopher Head, who was blamed for a shortfall of £88,500 at his Post Office branch, has received an offer under one-sixth of what he requested.
Mr Head, who is now 36, told The Telegraph: “The purpose of this scheme was meant to put sub-postmasters in a position where they would have been had the scandal not happened.
“If that’s the case then they clearly haven’t followed through with their principles by offering us such small sums.”
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