Scottish sub-postmasters wrongly accused in the Horizon IT scandal are being left behind in compensation payments due to complex devolution arrangements, an exclusive investigation has revealed.
While victims in England have begun receiving payments from a UK government scheme, their Scottish counterparts face significant delays and bureaucratic obstacles, creating what campaigners call a "two-tier justice system."
Devolution Creates Compensation Divide
The controversial Horizon accounting system, developed by Fujitsu, led to hundreds of wrongful prosecutions across the UK between 1999 and 2015. However, the devolution of powers to Scotland has created an unexpected barrier for Scottish victims seeking redress.
Holly Williams, reporting for the Independent, uncovered that Scottish sub-postmasters must navigate a separate compensation process through the Scottish government, despite the Post Office being a reserved matter handled by Westminster.
Financial Ruin and Emotional Trauma
Many affected sub-postmasters describe being driven to financial ruin and suffering severe mental health consequences after being wrongly accused of theft and false accounting.
"We've been through hell because of this system," said one Scottish sub-postmaster who wished to remain anonymous. "Now we're watching English victims get compensation while we're stuck in limbo. It feels like we're being punished twice."
Political Finger-Pointing
The situation has sparked political tensions between Holyrood and Westminster, with both governments appearing to blame each other for the delays in establishing a clear compensation pathway for Scottish victims.
Campaigners are demanding urgent intervention from both governments to resolve what they describe as an "unacceptable postcode lottery" in justice for Horizon scandal victims.
Mounting Pressure for Resolution
With public awareness of the Horizon scandal growing dramatically following recent television dramatisations, political pressure is mounting on both the UK and Scottish governments to find a swift resolution.
Legal experts suggest that the complex constitutional arrangement between reserved and devolved matters is creating unnecessary suffering for people who have already endured years of injustice.
The ongoing delays highlight the challenges of administering justice across different legal jurisdictions within the United Kingdom, particularly when dealing with historical scandals that predate current devolution settlements.
