CHESHIRE MPs have backed calls for former postmaster Alan Bates to receive a knighthood and queried when Fujitsu will be held accountable for its role in the Post Office scandal.

Hundreds of sub-postmasters, including Grant Allen in Winsford, were wrongfully convicted after cash shortfalls were discovered at their branches.

It was later discovered these shortfalls had been generated by the faulty Horizon IT system designed by the Japanese technology company.

This week, Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury questioned when Fujitsu would be held to account after Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake MP made a statement vowing the government's full commitment to justice for those wrongfully convicted at the conclusion of a public inquiry.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Amesbury said:  “I thank the minister for his work and for his constructive statement.

"When can we expect Fujitsu to be held accountable and to pay significant compensation to those affected?”

In response, Mr Hollinrake said: “I thank the Honourable Gentleman for his words. We should not prejudge the outcome of the inquiry.

“It is a statutory inquiry, and we should respect the processes it is undertaking. It is due to conclude later this year, and we hope for a report very shortly afterwards.

“At that point, we should be able to determine who is responsible and what action should be taken to make sure that their actions are properly dealt with in terms of individual responsibility or corporate responsibility, which may include a contribution to the compensation funds.”

The story of the Horizon scandal has further been brought to public attention through the ITV docudrama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

It tells the story of Alan Bates, a sub-postmaster in north Wales who reported issues with the IT system in 2000 and was terminated in 2003 after refusing to comply with Post Office policy.

Calls have now been made, and backed by Tatton MP Esther McVey, for Mr Bates to be knighted for leading campaign group Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance to its High Court victory in 2019.

Asked when he will be knighted, she told GB News: “As soon as possible, I hope, but obviously it's got to go through the regular process.

“But I have to say when the New Year's Honours List came through, I said I want to see more ordinary extraordinary people. And I'm quite convinced this man is an extraordinary person and the public will be behind him.

“Anybody can nominate him and I'm quite sure we will see Sir Alan as soon as possible.”

Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds has also backed a knighthood for Mr Bates, adding: “I think there's a very strong argument for it.

“But I would say, as well as the symbolism around this and the empathy that we've heard, what these former postmasters really need to see is compensation and they need those wrongful convictions to be quashed… they've waited for far too long for that. 

“So, absolutely, let's honour those who campaigned so hard, particularly Alan Bates and others. But let's make sure they get what's due too because for many of them, they just cannot wait.

“Careers have been ruined and some of them now, sadly, are really quite elderly. They need to get that support and that restitution now.”