Ministers draw up plans for emergency laws to clear hundreds of postmasters caught up in Post Office scandal

MINISTERS are drawing up plans for emergency laws to clear hundreds of postmasters caught up in the Horizon IT scandal.

They are considering fast-track appeals for the 750 hit with criminal convictions.

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The postal affairs minister has vowed to compensate “every victim” and said the government has a “clear moral duty” to act.

No10 also said PM Rishi Sunak would “strongly support” any honours committee probe into the CBE given to embattled ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells.

Ministers met yesterday for talks on how to help the convicted sub-postmasters clear their names.

Options include new legislation and the removal of the Post Office’s prosecution powers.

More than 700 branch managers were hit with criminal convictions after faulty Horizon IT software, developed by Fujitsu, made it seem money was missing.

There has been renewed public outcry over the scandal after last week’s screening of ITV’s drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

Postal affairs ministers Kevin Hollinrake told MPs overturning convictions is “key to unlocking compensation”.

He insisted the government had devised options to achieve that aim “much more quickly” but noted Justice Secretary Alex Chalk will have to speak to “senior figures in the judiciary” before they are unveiled.

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He expects to update the Commons this week.

Mr Hollinrake said ministers recognise “we have a clear moral duty to right these wrongs to the best of our ability”, adding: “Our aim is to ensure that every victim is fully recompensed for their losses and the suffering they have had to endure.”

Meanwhile, a petition calling for Ms Vennells, 65, to be stripped of her CBE had reached one million signatures yesterday.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey also faces renewed questions over his role as postal affairs minister from 2010 to 2012 at the height of the scandal.

Nigel Farage also asked why Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer did not intervene when he was director of public prosecutions from 2008 to 2013.