Cheltenham MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk has announced that hundreds of innocent postmasters who were wrongfully convicted due to the Horizon scandal will have their names cleared under new laws to be brought forward by the Government.

The blanket exoneration will overturn hundreds of convictions, brought about thanks to erroneous Horizon evidence, clearing the names of many people who have had their lives ruined. The Government has committed to making sure these convictions are overturned later this year, meaning victims do not need to wait years and years for the justice they deserve.

Once this legislation is passed and convictions have been quashed, individuals will be entitled to at least £600,000 in compensation to rebuild their lives.

Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP, Cheltenham MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice said: "Fairness is a core pillar of our justice system and there can be no doubt hundreds of innocent post-masters and mistresses - including here in Cheltenham - have suffered an intolerable miscarriage of justice at the hands of the Post Office."

Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, said: "Sir Wyn Williams' Inquiry, set up in 2020 to look at issues of governance in the Post Office, will continue its vital work and provide a full public record of how this miscarriage of justice was able to take place."