TV drama changed attitude to Post Office payouts - Badenoch
The Guardian|November 12, 2024
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has told an inquiry it is "extremely disappointing" that it took the ITV drama about the Post Office scandal to get the government to accelerate compensation payments for wrongfully prosecuted branch owner-operators.
Mark Sweney
TV drama changed attitude to Post Office payouts - Badenoch

Badenoch, the new leader of the opposition who held the post of business secretary for 17 months until the general election, said she and her then postal affairs minister, Kevin Hollinrake, had been working behind the scenes to get the Treasury to sign off on funding for more rapid and generous payouts for post office operators affected by the Horizon IT scandal.

Badenoch appeared before the public inquiry into the scandal yesterday. The inquiry was shown a letter she sent in August 2023 to the then chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, asking for funding to increase payments to improve the compensation schemes.

He rejected the request and "encouraged" her "to explore the full breadth of other options".

"I was not expecting the documentary [the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office] in January, which helped speed things along," said Badenoch. "It suddenly turned it from a value-for-money question to a public perception question.

Denne historien er fra November 12, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra November 12, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE GUARDIANSe alt
This one will mean something different. I'm doing it for me now'
The Guardian

This one will mean something different. I'm doing it for me now'

The big interview Joseph Parker New Zealander believes upsetting Daniel Dubois on Saturday to claim the IBF world heavyweight title would be his greatest achievement yet

time-read
7 mins  |
February 18, 2025
The Guardian

'We are one' Sudanese refugees find sanctuary with their neighbours

At the Joda border crossing between Sudan and South Sudan, movement is constant. Just 100 metres separate the two border checkpoints - on the Sudanese side, three raised flags welcome newcomers; on the South Sudanese side, a sign in Arabic and English marks the entrance to the country.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 18, 2025
No chilling effect
The Guardian

No chilling effect

Watchdog chief embraces new focus on growth

time-read
5 mins  |
February 18, 2025
Clubs will disappear Grassroots rugby still crying out for help in shadow of Six Nations riches
The Guardian

Clubs will disappear Grassroots rugby still crying out for help in shadow of Six Nations riches

ou may have noticed that the sports pages are less, well, sporty than they once were.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 18, 2025
'Buckle up and enjoy the ride' Van Dijk calls on Liverpool to calm nerves and relish title race
The Guardian

'Buckle up and enjoy the ride' Van Dijk calls on Liverpool to calm nerves and relish title race

Van Dijk calls on Liverpool to calm nerves and relish title race

time-read
2 mins  |
February 18, 2025
Julianne Moore children's book under 'ideology' review in US
The Guardian

Julianne Moore children's book under 'ideology' review in US

Julianne Moore has said it is a \"great shock\" to learn that one of her books has been \"banned by the Trump administration\" from schools serving the children of US military personnel and civilian defence employees.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
The Guardian

Rise in teenagers penalised for riding e-scooters

Electric scooters have been blamed for a surge in children being penalised for driving without insurance.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
Push to free Letby 'not right thing to do', says Streeting
The Guardian

Push to free Letby 'not right thing to do', says Streeting

Wes Streeting has said \"waging a campaign\" on behalf of Lucy Letby is \"not the right thing to do\".

time-read
2 mins  |
February 18, 2025
Misogyny and mind games: Murdoch family rifts exposed in rare interview
The Guardian

Misogyny and mind games: Murdoch family rifts exposed in rare interview

More of the Murdoch family's betrayals, leaks, \"mind games\", manipulations and humiliations have been laid bare, after a messy court trial that offered tantalising glimpses inside the dynasty.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 18, 2025
Bringing wolves back to Scotland could restore woodland - study
The Guardian

Bringing wolves back to Scotland could restore woodland - study

Reintroducing wolves in the Scottish Highlands could lead to an expansion of native woodland, which could take in and store 1m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, researchers have suggested.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025