08 January 2024 , 12:05
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Business magnate Richard Branson has reportedly offered Post Office scandal campaigner Alan Bates a holiday on his private island.
The campaigner who fought for the truth for staff investigated and prosecuted over the Horizon scandal is understood to have been offered first-class flights for him and his partner to a destination of his choice. Mr Bates' activism, which has been portrayed in ITV's Mr Bates vs The Post Office, revealed the catalogue of postmasters prosecuted over accounting system failures between 1999 and 2015.
The offer came after the 69-year-old campaigner was interviewed by The Times about his ordeal, cheekily quipping: “If Richard Branson is reading this, I’d love a holiday.” Now it seems the joke may have paid off, after reported confirmation by Branson's spokespeople that the billionaire would offer the trip.
Alan Bates appeared alongside wife Suzanne on This Morning and welled up with tears as he was told the incredible news (ITV)Posting on X, formerly Twitter, former The Sun editor Kelvin Mackenzie wrote. “You will remember Alan Bates said in the last line of his Sunday Times interview about his battle to bring justice to the wronged sub-postmasters. I have just heard from his people that Branson did indeed read it and has now offered Mr Bates and his partner of 30 years Upper Class return tickets to a destination of their choice.”
He added: “And further, he would be more than happy to put them up on Necker Island, his glorious private island in the Caribbean.” Mr Bates, from Llandudno, North Wales, was one of thousands of Post Office employees hit by the faulty IT system Horizon, resulting in many being accused of theft.
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Many were taken to court with some even taking their own lives over the false accusations. A public inquiry into the scandal is ongoing.
A Post Office spokesperson has previously said it shares the "aims of the public inquiry to get to the truth of what went wrong in the past and establish accountability".