MPs demand penalties for delays in Post Office scandal payouts
Seema Misra one of the scandal victims was honoured with an OBE in the King’s New Year list
Seema Misra was wrongly imprisoned in 2010 after being accused of stealing £75,000 from her Post Office branch in Surrey, where she was the subpostmistress. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
MPs have called for financial penalties against the government if it fails to speed up compensation for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal. The business and trade select committee has criticised the slow pace of payments, urging the government to implement binding timeframes and impose penalties for delays.
The committee's report, released one year after the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office drew public attention to the scandal, highlighted that only £499 million of the £1.8 billion set aside for compensation has been paid out so far. Of the claims made by sub-postmasters, 14 per cent of those who applied before the 2020 deadline are still waiting for resolution.
Liam Byrne MP, committee chairman, expressed frustration at the process. “The fault lies with the Post Office, but ultimately, the government, as the shareholder, must act,” he said. Byrne also criticised the legal fees being paid out to administer the compensation schemes, noting that £136m had gone to legal costs, a significant portion of the compensation budget.
“The legal bill appears to be racking up all the time, and the whole thing is just, frankly, out of control," Byrne continued. He added that for every £4 spent on compensation, £1 is going to legal fees, raising concerns that lawyers, not victims, are benefiting from the process.
The committee has recommended that the Post Office be removed from overseeing the compensation schemes due to concerns about its role in the scandal and the slow pace of redress. "We believe the Post Office has lost its grip on the process," Byrne said.
He stressed that many victims, some of whom have died without receiving justice, were still waiting for compensation.
Seema Misra, one of the victims, was wrongfully imprisoned due to the flawed Horizon IT system, which falsely showed financial discrepancies.
She was released after serving part of her sentence while pregnant. Misra, who was honoured with an OBE in the King’s New Year list, commented on the injustice, saying the award acknowledged the “scale of the injustice and scandal.”
The committee’s report also calls for more transparency in the handling of legal fees and suggests that upfront legal advice be provided to victims to help streamline the claims process. Additionally, the MPs are pushing for strict deadlines for the approval of claims, with financial penalties if they are missed.
The Post Office has acknowledged the committee’s concerns, stating that it is committed to paying redress swiftly. A spokesperson for the organisation added that the government was considering taking over the administration of the compensation schemes, a suggestion supported by the committee.
A spokesperson for the government said, “We are settling claims at a faster rate than ever before, with almost £500 million paid to over 3,300 claimants by the end of November.”
Despite these claims, MPs remain sceptical, with Byrne adding that the system needs a "reboot." He stressed that, while some progress had been made, the pace of compensation was still "not fast enough" and that victims were continuing to suffer as a result.
The commemoration event honoured two South Asian WW2 veterans who died this year, Havildar Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt MBE and Sergeant Mohammad Hussain.
TWO South Asian Second World War veterans were honoured at a commemoration event in London on Wednesday, September 10. The ceremony paid tribute to Havildar Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt MBE and Sergeant Mohammad Hussain, who both died this year.
The event, hosted by British Future and Eastern Eye with support from the Royal British Legion, also launched My Family Legacy, a project to raise awareness of South Asian contributions in the world wars and preserve family stories for future generations.
More than 2.5 million people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka served in the Second World War, forming the largest volunteer army in history. New polling by Focaldata, released alongside the launch, found that only half of the UK public – and fewer than six in ten British Asians – know that Indian soldiers served in the war.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said: “We should never forget what we all owe to those who won the second world war against fascism. South Asian soldiers were the largest volunteer army in history. Ensuring that their enormous contribution is fully recognised in our national story remains important work in progress. My Family Legacy aims to help people to find, document and tell these family stories of courage and contribution, service and sacrifice in the world wars.”
Gail Walters, Director of Network Engagement at the Royal British Legion, said: “Honouring the South Asian soldiers who served in Britain’s World Wars is about remembering their bravery and also gives a fuller picture of our shared history. The service and sacrifice of South Asian soldiers are integral to Britain’s national story and helped build the country we are today.”
Amrit Kaur Dhatt, granddaughter of Havildar Major Dhatt, said: “It is so important to capture stories of Commonwealth and ethnic minority soldiers, like my grandfather’s, because they were left out of mainstream history. I find that even the disparity and awareness between VE and VJ Day remains shockingly significant. But remembering isn’t just about the past. It is about shaping the future. And I fear that today’s society clearly hasn’t learnt enough from history. Baba Ji had always hoped that future generations would never have to see the devastation that they [war veterans] had to endure.”
Ejaz Hussain, granddaughter of Sergeant Hussain, said: “As the last soldiers of the war fade before our eyes, it remains imperative that we capture their stories. We - as a country and a people - are blessed to be here today, enjoying liberty and safety directly because of the sacrifices of those from the greatest generation, of which my grandfather was one.”
Journalist Sangita Myska said: “Honouring the service given by South Asian soldiers is vital to understanding the intertwined and complex relationship forged by our forebears with Britain.”
Actor Adil Ray OBE said: “This is the greatest war story that’s never been told. Millions of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs from India, today’s Pakistan and Bangladesh fought two world wars, fighting for our freedom. We owe everything to Major Dhatt and Sergeant Hussain and their fellow soldiers. Their history is our history.”
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Sabin Tamang, 20, who works in a restaurant and participated in a Gen-Z protest, holds up a shovel while posing for a photograph next to graffiti as he takes part in a cleaning campaign following Monday's deadly anti-corruption protests in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
NEPAL is facing its worst political and social crisis in decades after deadly protests toppled prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli earlier this week, leaving parliament in flames, thousands of prisoners on the run and the country’s leadership in limbo.
The protests, led largely by young people and dubbed the “Gen Z” movement, erupted after a controversial social media ban and quickly spread across the country. Demonstrators accused the government of corruption, lack of opportunities and failure to deliver reforms.
Violence peaked on Tuesday (9) when at least 19 protesters were killed during clashes, prompting Oli, a four-time prime minister, to resign. Nepal’s health ministry later confirmed the death toll had risen to 34, with more than 1,300 people injured.
During the unrest, around 13,500 detainees escaped from prisons across the country. The army said on Thursday (11) it had recaptured 192 inmates in Rajbiraj, a southeastern city, while security forces also regained control in Ramechhap, east of Kathmandu, where clashes left two prisoners dead and 12 wounded.
India’s border security force confirmed it had detained about 60 fugitives trying to cross into Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal before handing them back to Nepali authorities. Security forces have also recovered nearly 100 weapons looted during the uprising.
Fires set by protesters destroyed parliament, government offices, the Supreme Court and commercial buildings. A Hilton hotel in Kathmandu and hotels in Pokhara were among the businesses torched during the violence.
Soldiers remain deployed on the streets of the capital, where a curfew has been imposed and schools, shops and colleges are closed. Essential services are only slowly resuming.
President Ramchandra Paudel, 80, has appealed for calm and promised that efforts are underway to find a solution “as soon as possible” within the constitutional framework. “I am consulting and making every effort to find a way out of the current difficult situation in the country,” he said. “I appeal to all parties to be confident that a solution to the problem is being sought to address the demands of the protesting citizens.”
FILE PHOTO: Nepal's former Chief Justice Sushila Karki looks on during the launch of her autobiography "Nyaya" at a ceremony in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
With Oli’s resignation, Paudel is constitutionally required to invite the leader of the largest parliamentary party to form a government. However, protesters are demanding the dissolution of parliament altogether. They have instead put forward retired chief justice Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first woman to head the judiciary, as their preferred interim leader.
Karki, 73, served as chief justice in 2016 and is seen by many demonstrators as a symbol of integrity. “We see Sushila Karki for who she truly is — honest, fearless, and unshaken,” said Sujit Kumar Jha, a 34-year-old company secretary in Kathmandu.
A protest leader, Ojaswi Raj Thapa, said: “We will dissolve the parliament. We are not trying to dissolve the constitution. We may need some changes to the constitution but we don’t want to end it.”
Local media reported that Karki has already held talks with president Paudel and Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel. The army confirmed that “initial talks” are ongoing and that curfew orders will remain in place in Kathmandu and nearby areas for most of the day.
The demonstrations have been described as the most serious challenge to Nepal’s political system since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008. While Oli’s whereabouts remain unknown after his resignation, protesters insist they will not back down until their demands are met.
For now, the streets of Kathmandu remain under tight watch, and though international flights are still operating, the uncertainty has left the country of 30 million people at a standstill. As one young protester shouted near the charred remains of the parliament building: “This is our time. We will not be silent.”
(Agencies)
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Modi’s ruling coalition nominated Radhakrishnan, 68, who is the governor of the western state of Maharashtra, as its candidate for the post.
INDIAN lawmakers elected CP Radhakrishnan, a former parliamentarian from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the country’s new vice president on Tuesday. The election comes more than a month after the previous vice president resigned.
Jagdeep Dhankhar, whose term was to end in 2027, stepped down in July, citing health reasons.
Federal lawmakers voted in a secret ballot on Tuesday to elect the vice president, as required by the constitution.
Modi’s ruling coalition nominated Radhakrishnan, 68, who is the governor of the western state of Maharashtra, as its candidate for the post.
Radhakrishnan was widely expected to win because of the support the BJP and its allies have in parliament. He received 452 of the 752 valid preferential votes cast, according to PC Mody, secretary-general of the upper house of parliament.
Opposition parties nominated B Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, as their candidate. Reddy received 300 votes.
The vice president holds the second-highest constitutional office in India and serves as the chair of the upper house of parliament. The vice president also acts as president if there is a temporary vacancy.
The president and vice president are largely ceremonial posts, while executive powers remain with the prime minister and cabinet.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Mandelson, 71, a veteran Labour politician and key figure in the party under former leader Tony Blair, had come under scrutiny after letters and emails to Epstein were published. (Photo: Getty Images)
PETER MANDELSON, the UK's ambassador to the United States, has been sacked over revelations about his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the government said.
"The Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as ambassador," a foreign ministry statement said, adding that new messages showed "the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein".
Mandelson, 71, a veteran Labour politician and key figure in the party under former leader Tony Blair, had come under scrutiny after letters and emails to Epstein were published.
A birthday book included a letter purportedly from Mandelson describing Epstein as "my best pal". Further emails showed Mandelson advised Epstein to fight for early release when he faced charges over soliciting a minor.
"In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador," the foreign ministry said. "The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment."
The ministry added that Mandelson's suggestion that Epstein's first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged was "new information."
On Wednesday, Mandelson said he deeply regretted ever meeting Epstein and that he had carried on that association "for far longer than I should have done". Starmer later gave him his backing in parliament.
(With inputs from agencies)
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European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen with Narendra Modi during a meeting in New Delhi in February
INDIA and the European Union are holding potentially decisive trade negotiations in New Delhi this week, seeking to resolve differences over agriculture, dairy and non-tariff barriers to meet an ambitious end of year deadline for a deal, Indian government and EU sources said.
New Delhi is seeking to deepen global partnerships after US president Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent last month over India’s Russian oil purchases, hitting exports such as textiles, leather and chemicals.
Negotiations, relaunched in 2022, have gained pace since Trump’s re-election. Brussels too, faced with Trump’s tariffs, has accelerated its push for trade alliances, sealing deals with Mexico and the South American Mercosur countries and stepping up talks with India, Indonesia and the Unaited Arab Emirates.
“Talks with the EU are progressing well,” an Indian government source said, citing Modi’s call with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen last week, when both leaders pledged to con clude a deal this year.
So far 11 of the 23 chapters under negotiations have been finalised, covering customs, digital trade, intellectual property, competition, subsidies, dispute settlement and anti-fraud measures, the source said. But sticking points remain.
India has ruled out concessions on agriculture and dairy, citing farmers’ livelihoods, while the EU is pressing for greater access to India’s market for automobiles and alcoholic beverages.
Differences also persist on rules of origin, food safety standards, labour and environmental obligations, and what Brussels views as restrictive Indian quality control orders that act as non-tariff barri ers, an EU official said.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity as the details about trade talks are not public.
India’s commerce ministry and the EU office in New Delhi did not immediately respond to email requests for comments.
Brussels is also pressing New Delhi over discounted Russian oil purchases, which EU officials say undermine sanc tions against Moscow.
While unlikely to dominate the discussions, the issue could cast a pall over the negotiations and result in resistance in the European Parliament, which would have to approve any deal, EU officials said.
European Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen and EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic will be in Delhi this week for discussions with Indian counterparts.
In parallel, the EU’s Political and Security Committee, led by Chair Delphine Pronk and comprising ambassadors of all 27 states, will visit India from September 10-14 for meetings with officials, defence executives and think tanks.
Another contentious issue is the EU’s carbon border tax, which will levy carbon intensive imports such as steel and aluminium from 2026
Indian officials call it a disguised trade barrier, while Brussels insists it is central to its climate policy. EU officials said they were ready to offer flexibility in its implementation to address the concerns of small and medium-sized businesses. (Reuters)