A pardon for everyone

Yousaf insists that he will work with Westminster to provide the ‘easiest and fastest’ resolution

- SALLY HIND AND ANDREW QUINN

SCOTS convicted as part of the Post Office Horizon scandal will be cleared, the First Minister has confirmed.

More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted across the UK, including up to 100 in Scotland, after being wrongly blamed for cash shortfalls identified by the faulty IT system.

Humza Yousaf spoke out last night to say he would work with Westminster to ensure victims across the UK - including Scotland - will have convictions overturned.

The FM said those affected "can be absolutely assured" they will be pardoned, saying he was seeking the easiest and fastest" solution.

The First Minister's comments came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to introduce a new law that will quash convictions in England and Wales.

Convicted subpostmaster Robert Thomson, from Alva, Clackmannanshire, was sacked and falsely accused of embezzlement in 2006 and is due in court in days in a bid to clear his name.

The 64-year-old said: "After almost two decades this is so pleasing to finally hear. Time is now of the essence. With me and others due to go to court very soon we need to know more about how and when this will happen.

"Will we still need to go to court? "We need to know more, but maybe soon I'll be able to go about with my head held high again." Yousaf said he was open to using a Legislative Consent Motion to allow a change in the law in England to also apply in Scotland. He said: "The Post Office absolutely have to be held to account.

It is important that we get the answers for those who have waited far too long for justice." In the letter to Sunak last night, he said: "Scottish Ministers are keen to work with the UK Government to deal with the impact on subpostmasters convicted in Scotland, ensuring that a UK-wide approach is taken to exonerate those wrongfully convicted in Scottish courts.