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The UK Government has today announced that every Postmaster who was wrongfully convicted and has had their conviction overturned as it was reliant on Horizon evidence will be offered an optional sum of up to £600,000 in compensation.
All reasonable legal fees will continue to be covered and any Postmaster who does not want to accept this offer can continue with the existing process.
For those postmasters who have already received initial compensation payments or have reached a settlement with the Post Office of less than the £600,000, they will be paid the difference.
Our aim is to ensure as many Postmasters involved receive this offer of compensation as fast as possible to help bring a resolution to the scandal. This includes any Postmasters who overturn their convictions in the future based on Horizon evidence – they too will be entitled to today’s compensation.
Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “This is about righting a wrong and providing some form of relief to those wrongfully caught up in this scandal.
“Too many Postmasters have suffered and for too long, which is why the Government remains committed to seeing this through to the end until it is resolved and ensuring this cannot ever happen again.”
Starting in the late 1990s, the Post Office began installing Horizon accounting software, but faults in the software led to shortfalls in branches’ accounts. The Post Office demanded sub-postmasters cover the shortfalls, and in many cases wrongfully prosecuted them between 1999 and 2015 for false accounting or theft.
Postmasters who were wrongfully convicted have been forced to endure great hardships, losing clean criminal records, loss of liberty and huge financial losses – that is why the Government believes today’s announcement can finally bring the pain to a close.
The Government has already set up the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and provided it with the necessary statutory powers to ensure it can investigate what happened, establish the facts and make recommendations for the future. The Inquiry is progressing and we will continue to cooperate fully to ensure that the facts of what happened are established and lessons learned.
To date, 86 convictions have been overturned and £21 million has been paid in compensation to postmasters with overturned convictions.
The Overturned Convictions process, Horizon Shortfall Scheme and Group Litigation Order have in total paid more than £120 million to 2,600 individuals affected by the Horizon scandal.
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Government announces £600,000 of new compensation for every wrongfully convicted Postmaster

TikTok has been fined 345 million euro (£296 million) by Ireland’s data watchdog following an investigation into how the social media platform processed children’s data.
The fine was imposed on TikTok Technology Limited (TTL) by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) after the probe into how certain privacy settings and features complied with obligations under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.
The DPC inquiry examined age verification as part of the registration process and the processing of the personal data of children by the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform between July 31 and December 31 2020.
Tiktok said that it “respectfully disagreed” with the level of the fine imposed and stated that it related to features and settings which were in place three years ago.
The DPC adopted its final decision regarding its inquiry into TTK on September 1.
The DPC ruling described how child users progressed through the sign-up to the TikTok platform in such a manner that their accounts were set to public by default.
It said this meant that videos that were posted to child users’ account were public-by-default and comments were enabled publicly by default.
In the Family Pairing feature, the DPC said a child user’s accounts could be “paired” with an unverified non-child.
It said that that the non-child user had the power to enable direct messages for child users above the age of 16, thereby making this feature less strict for the child user.
As part of the inquiry, the DPC also examined some of TTL’s transparency obligations, including the extent of information provided to child users in relation to default settings.
The DPC has issued a reprimand as well as an order requiring TTL to bring its processing into compliance by taking specified action specified within three months and administrative fines totalling 345 million euro.
A spokesperson for TikTok said: “We respectfully disagree with the decision, particularly the level of the fine imposed.
“The DPC’s criticisms are focused on features and settings that were in place three years ago, and that we made changes to well before the investigation even began, such as setting all under 16 accounts to private by default.”
It is the latest in a series of fines handed out by the DPC in Ireland to social media giants.
Earlier this year, Facebook’s parent company Meta Ireland was fined 390 million for breaches of EU data privacy rules, one of a number of fines the DPC has imposed on the company.
In Januar,y WhatsApp was fined more than five million euro over data protection breaches and last year Instagram was fined 405 million euro over the way in which it handled teenagers’ personal data.
Earlier this year in the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office fined TikTok £12.7 million because it “did not do enough” to make sure underage children were not using its platform and ensure that their data was used correctly.
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TikTok fined £296m by watchdog over how it processed children’s data

Hundreds of business professionals walked out of their offices today to demand the Government takes firm and urgent action on climate change.
Critically timed ahead of party-political season, this peaceful queue for climate and nature, ran from St Paul’s through central London. The gathering organised by Business Declares, Business Stand Up & friends, called on the Prime Minister, UK Government and all UK political parties to commit to a clear climate plan that gives long term business security.
The move comes after mounting concerns at the UK Government’s attitude towards climate change and environmental policy, and the worry felt among thousands of business professionals and leading industry stakeholders, that swift action is required.
The business professionals and campaigners joined the queue to sign an open letter to political parties urging for these asks to be included in party manifestos without delay.
Chris Skidmore MP, former Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation and head of the Net Zero Review, said: “This unprecedented call from a vast range of businesses today to step up the ambition and vision on net zero at this vital moment to create the stability and clarity we need is exactly what I called for in the Mission Zero Report. […] I fully support this Queue and its call on all political parties to ensure these policies are in their manifestos. Today demonstrates that above all business recognises that net zero and phasing out fossil fuels is an opportunity, not a cost and will create jobs and wealth, while to delay action will simply cost the UK.”
Dr Bevis Watts, CEO of Triodos Bank UK, said: “We have long acknowledged that on the current trajectory we face a climate and ecological emergency – the time to act is now. COP28 later this year must deliver an acceleration in action at a global level, prioritising the phasing out of fossil fuels and increasing financial support for a fair, low carbon future. The queue for climate and nature is a powerful representation that the business appetite for change is there. Only a truly collective effort can turn current anxiety about the future into something more hopeful.”
Paul Polman, advisor to the UK Government on COP26 and former CEO of Unilever, added: “The days of politicians being able to blame their climate timidity on business are well and truly over. Whether it’s CEOs going into Government Departments to urge them to do more, or companies signing public letters to the Prime Minister, or employees queuing over the Thames, a big part of the private sector is now shouting from the rooftops. We want a Government with courage and ambition, and we want to play our part. Together we can transform our economy and help our planet thrive – but it has to be together.”
Chris Packham, Naturalist and TV Broadcaster concluded “All over the world businesses are being burned, flooded, displaced or bankrupted by climate breakdown- lives and livelihoods are being lost en masse. It’s time for business to be bold and brave, it has the brains, the brawn and the financial backing to make a difference . But business is still people, real people who need to take real action. Smart, professional, peaceful and quintessentially British – please join those at the forefront of business who will queue to send a clear message to our politicians that we need action to address climate breakdown now” –
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Hundreds of UK businesses demonstrate against government inaction ahead of party conference season

A former special adviser to Kemi Badenoch has slammed her former boss and the government’s wider business strategy, saying the Secretary of State and her department “do not know, nor really care” about business issues.
In an extraordinary essay for Finito World, Joanna Thomas – who worked for Kemi Badenoch for a year until recently at the Department for Business and Trade – describes ministers “populating a personal address book as a hedge against election defeat” rather than engaging with serious issues.
And in what appears to be a further barb at her former boss, Thomas slams the business department’s “basic etiquette” as lacking “standards.”
It should be a basic that “there would be respect for CEO diaries, events would not be cancelled last minute after months of planning, and, if unavoidable, then followed up,” Thomas writes.
Thomas, who singles out Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt as “genuinely diligent, intelligent leaders,” also criticises a lack of “emotional intelligence” in the business department’s senior ranks.
Of her former boss and the business department, Thomas further writes: “It is not enough to keep admitting “we do not know what business is about” and “we want to hear from you”.
“It is novel, even charming at first, but the act wears thin if the fact is we really do not know, nor really care,” she adds.
A source at the business and trade department said “Joanna was relieved from her duties in the Secretary of State’s office earlier this year.
“She was hired as a parliamentary advisor based on her previous role in an MP’s office but lacked business or trade experience. It is not clear on what basis she is making these comments but we wish her well in her future endeavours.”
There is further implied criticism of Badenoch’s treatment of civil servants.
“I found hard working, impartial, bright and diligent people (at the business department) who care deeply about our country; people who need leadership and to be encouraged and allowed to think big, but also who need to be heard and valued for the expertise they bring,” the former advisor writes.
The allegations are the latest criticisms of senior ministers in government, following accusations of bullying targeted at Dominic Raab last year which ultimately cost the long-term cabinet minister his job.
While the business and trade department refused to comment on the criticisms, officials pointed to recent announcements of major investment in the automotive and manufacturing sector – such as this week’s announcement by BMW that it would remain in Oxfordshire with government support – as well as moves to protect jobs in the steel industry.
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Former Kemi Badenoch advisor says conservative Government ‘does not know, nor really care’ about business issues

House prices are falling at their fastest rate since 2009, according to the latest poll of surveyors.
A net balance of 68 per cent of property professionals in August reported declining house prices, marking the most negative reading since the financial crisis, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which cited the impact of high mortgage rates.
New buyer inquiries also fell during the month, with a net balance of 47 per cent of professionals reporting a drop, deteriorating from a balance of 45 per cent in July.
Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the trade body, warned that there was “little sign of any relief”. An overwhelming majority of those polled — a net 67 per cent — said that prices would fall further in the coming few months.
Looking ahead, a net balance of 48 per cent of estate agents and surveyors expected prices to be lower in a year’s time than they are now. The institution said that the results were “indicative of a sustained downward shift in house prices”.
Rubinsohn added: “The latest round of feedback from RICS members continues to point to a sluggish housing market. Critically, affordability metrics still remain stretched in many parts of the country.”
Prices have fallen due to a sharp drop in demand for homes as would-be buyers postponed their plans because of the rapid rise in the cost of mortgages.
The property market downturn began almost a year ago following the September mini-budget of the Liz Truss government. After a brief recovery in the spring, they began to drop again over the summer as interest rates continued to rise.
Reflecting the increased cost of borrowing, a net 47 per cent of those polled by the institution reported another decline in new buyer inquiries in August. A similar proportion said they agreed fewer sales last month than in July — the weakest reading since the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, when the industry was effectively closed.
“Once again, the downward trend in sales activity is evident right across the UK,” the organisation said. Most agents expected sales to fall further over the near term. In addition, the institution said a “yawning gap” between demand and supply in the rental sector had pushed up rents. The majority of letting agents reported an increase in inquiries from new tenants and a drop in landlord instructions. Due to the imbalance, a net 60 per cent expected that rents, already at record highs, would rise further over the next few months.
“Anecdotal comments from contributors that landlords are leaving the sector suggest the challenging environment for tenants is unlikely to improve any time soon,” Rubinsohn said.
A separate report from Zoopla, the online property site, has suggested that rental affordability is at its worst in more than a decade, with costs having increased by 10.5 per cent over the past 12 months. Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “Rents continue to rise faster than earnings, worsening rental affordability.”
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House price fall is worst in 14 years

A small cleantech firm in Surrey has secured a £4 million order to supply its technology to a projected 2.0 gigawatt solar facility in India, unlocking a major export opportunity with support from UK Export Finance (UKEF).
Gas Recovery and Recycle Limited (GR2L) is a micro-SME business which has developed, patented and exported cutting-edge technology to reduce the energy consumption, carbon footprint and cost of manufacturing solar panels.
Makers of solar panels use argon gas to purify silicon crystals which are then used in solar cells. This process requires vast amounts of argon, with some producers needing to ship in multiple tankers of the gas each day.
GR2L’s ArgonØ machinery is a world first which allows solar cell production – as well as other advanced manufacturing activities like microelectronics production, 3D metals printing and aerospace heat treatments – instead to recycle up to 95% of argon used.
GR2L had an opportunity to supply its argon recycling technology to Mundra Solar Technology Ltd to support a solar facility being built in Mundra, India.
At the same time, the Surrey SME needed to obtain payments in advance of making any deliveries to Mundra. To secure these payments, it had to issue a guarantee to assure the buyer that it could deliver, which would have meant making a cash deposit through its bank, Lloyds Bank. This however would have restricted the funds which the company needed for delivering the very same orders which it wanted to secure.
A £475,000 guarantee issued under UKEF’s Bond Support Scheme meant that GR2L could instead reclaim this portion of the cash deposit; this allowed GR2L to access crucial funds needed to deliver the Mundra contract and secure this major exporting opportunity.
Lisa Maddison-Brown, UKEF Export Finance Manager for Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex, said: “It is good news that GR2L, a micro-business which has the edge in international markets thanks to the strength of its patented UK technology, is now going even further with the backing of UK Export Finance.
“This announcement shows the value which we, working alongside financial institutions like Lloyds Bank, can bring to innovative companies – including small businesses like GR2L – to grow their global presence.”
Rob Grant, CEO and founder of GR2L, said: “With production of brand-new argon creating up to a tonne of carbon dioxide for every tonne of argon, our cutting-edge gas recycling technology helps solar facilities reduce their scope 3 CO2 emissions and produce solar fuel cells more efficiently.
“Building on our existing export successes, support from Lloyds Banks and UKEF helped us to secure this latest growth opportunity and further develop our established international presence. I look forward to commissioning our machinery by the end of 2023.”
Colin Walls, Regional Director, Trade & Working Capital and Lloyds Bank, said: “Gas Recovery and Recycling Ltd is exactly the type of business we want to see thriving. As a bank, we are committed to helping Britain prosper, so it’s fantastic to see the exporting ambitions of this firm grow with the support which we can offer alongside UKEF’s through our Working Capital facility. Their contract with Mundra Solar Technology Ltd is testament to that.”
UKEF’s role in unlocking this export opportunity delivers on the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the economy, supporting jobs in Surrey and helping expand opportunities for UK businesses.
GR2L’s export success story also underscores the value of the UK-India trading relationship and its role in promoting innovation – something which Prime Minister Rishi Sunk built on when he visited New Delhi for the G20 summit last week.
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UK Export Finance helps Surrey cleantech firm supply to 2.0 GW solar facility in India

Despite a challenging economic environment, 101 new businesses were created every hour across the UK in the first half of 2023, according to new.
Analysis of Companies House data reveals that over 436,000 businesses were registered in the UK between January and June 2023, an increase of 8% from the 402,000 set up over the same time period in 2022.
London and North West top list of areas to start a business
The iwoca’s Business Hotspots 2023 report reveals London saw the highest rate of business creation in the first half of this year with 1,768 businesses being created per 100,000 people. This was followed by the North West with 612, climbing from third to second place. By contrast, last year’s runner-up in new business creation per capita – the West Midlands – fell to third place this year, with 574 businesses set up per 100,000 residents.
Scotland came bottom of the list with 365 companies set up for every 100,000 residents, with Wales in penultimate place with 371.
Camden tops the list of council areas as London dominates top 10
Camden saw the highest total number of businesses per capita out of all UK local authorities, with 13,646 new companies per 100,000 residents – nearly 3,500 more than were registered in the borough the year before. The second largest number of firms per capita were registered in Hackney followed by Islington. London’s local authorities make up all of the top 10.
The analysis reveals that Somerset West and Taunton saw the largest number of new businesses per capita outside of London, with 1,201 businesses created per 100,000. West Suffolk ranked second of all local authorities outside London at 1,187 per 100,000.
Self-employment makes a comeback
The high rate of business creation coincides with the highest self-employment levels since December 2020. ONS figures show the UK was home to 4.39 million self-employed individuals in Q1 2023 – an increase of 154,000 on Q1 2022.
While self-employment fell steadily over 2020 and 2021, levels have seen sustained increases since 2022, suggesting entrepreneurialism is on the uptick. ONS figures report 738,000 job moves in Q1 2023 – 43% of these moves were triggered by resignations. In 2022, resignations accounted for 40% of job-to-job moves, suggesting that more workers are deciding in 2023 to quit their jobs and set up new businesses.
Seema Desai, iwoca’s Chief Operating Officer said: “It is encouraging to see so many new businesses being created during the first half of this year, despite high inflation and economic uncertainty. iwoca’s Business Hotspots 2023 list shows that the spirit of entrepreneurship is strong across the whole country, with tens of thousands of businesses being created in each region. This will be vital for the country’s economic growth over the next few years, and is a huge vote of confidence in the UK as a place to do business.”
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 101 new businesses were created every hour across the UK in first half of 2023

Four people have been charged in connection with the collapse of Patisserie Valerie – a bakery chain that once had almost 200 stores.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said it related to an investigation that began in October 2018 – just two days after the company abruptly suspended trading, with more than 900 jobs and 70 sites subsequently lost.
Christopher Marsh, who formerly served as Patisserie Holdings’ chief financial officer, is among those facing charges.
His accountant wife Louise – as well as financial controller Pritesh Mistry and financial consultant Nileshkumar Lad – have also been charged.
“The SFO has charged all four suspects with conspiring to inflate the cash in Patisserie Holdings’ balance sheets and annual reports from 2015 to 2018, including by providing false documentation to the company’s auditors,” a statement said.
“During this time, the company also reported holding £28m in accounts, yet concealed £10m in debts from its investors and creditors.”
The four individuals are due to appear before Westminster Magistrates Court next month for the charges to be formally read.
Lisa Osofsky, director of the SFO, added: “Patisserie Valerie’s abrupt collapse rocked our high streets – leaving boarded-up shops, devastating job losses and significant investor losses in its wake.
“Today is a step forward in getting to the bottom of this scandal.”
The criminal case has run separate to wider investigations into failures associated with the company’s demise.
Accountancy firm Grant Thornton was fined £2.34m in 2021 by the industry’s watchdog.
The Financial Reporting Council’s conduct inquiry found “serious lack of competence” in its audits of the cake chain, declaring that “red flags” were missed.
Speaking about the charges, Richard Cannon, Partner at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors, commented: “The SFO case against former Patisserie Valerie executives will no doubt be touted by the organisation as a success, having dropped two high-profile cases into ENRC and Rio Tinto in recent weeks.
“Despite this, questions must be asked as to why it has taken the SFO five years to bring charges against these individuals, and whether the service is fit for purpose.
“As the SFO looks to new leadership under Nick Ephgrave, it is vital that the organisation address these concerns if it is to accomplish the Herculean task of trying to restore its credibility as a regulator.”
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Four people face fraud charges over Patisserie Valerie collapse

The Range, the value retail chain, has struck a deal to buy the Wilko brand from its collapsed rival’s administrators.
It is understood that The Range, founded and owned by Chris Dawson, has agreed to pay in the region of £5m for the Wilko name.
The deal is expected to be formally announced later today.
It will be the latest in a series of transactions signed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as more than 10,000 job losses loom at Wilko.
While 120 stores – more than a quarter of Wilko’s estate – have been sold to B&M European Value Retail and Poundland’s owner, it remains unclear whether the staff working at those stores will be transferred to their new owners.
The gloom surrounding Wilko’s workforce deepened after Doug Putman, the HMV owner, pulled out of a deal to salvage as many as 300 shops after his financing was cancelled.
Prior to the collapse of that transaction, PwC had already announced about 1,600 redundancies since the family-owned chain crashed into insolvency last month.
Wilko – owned by the founding Wilkinson family for decades – had been seeking external investment for months, a search which acquired greater urgency four weeks ago when PwC was formally appointed as administrator.
Established by the Wilkinson family in 1930, the chain sells homewares and garden furniture at discounted prices.
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The Range buys collapsed Wilko’s brand in £5m deal