The long-running Post Office Horizon scandal has already been branded one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British history.
But now, years after thousands of sub-postmasters saw their lives shattered, businesses destroyed and reputations ruined, a fresh political row has erupted over a question many victims have been asking for years:
Who is actually going to pay for it?
That question exploded into the spotlight during a tense parliamentary hearing when MP Rupert Lowe launched a blistering attack on government officials, accusing the state of presiding over what he described as a “massive fraud” and demanding answers about why taxpayers are still footing the bill while technology giant Fujitsu has yet to contribute any compensation.
His intervention immediately became one of the most striking moments of the session.
“They knew about the flaws”
Lowe did not hold back.
Speaking passionately about the Horizon scandal, he argued that serious defects in Fujitsu’s Horizon software were known long before the scale of the disaster became public.
“I think this is a massive state fraud,” he said.
According to Lowe, knowledge of problems within the software system existed for years but was allegedly concealed while prosecutions continued against sub-postmasters accused of theft and false accounting.
The allegations strike at the heart of one of Britain’s darkest public scandals.
Between 1999 and 2015, faulty data generated by the Horizon accounting system made it appear that money was missing from local Post Office branches. Hundreds of sub-postmasters were prosecuted, while many others were pressured into repaying money they never stole. Some were imprisoned. Others lost their homes, businesses and livelihoods. Families were torn apart, and several victims died before seeing justice.
The scandal eventually prompted public inquiries, court battles and a nationwide reckoning after evidence emerged showing that the computer system itself was generating false shortfalls.
“The government creates the mess — then fails to clean it up”
Lowe’s criticism extended far beyond the Post Office itself.
He accused the state of repeatedly making disastrous decisions before failing to address the consequences efficiently.
In remarks that are likely to resonate with many frustrated voters, he suggested that the public is becoming increasingly irritated by governments that create problems and then struggle to resolve them.
His comments touched on a growing concern surrounding the compensation process.
Although substantial sums have been paid out, many victims and campaigners argue that justice has moved painfully slowly. Some claimants waited years for redress. Others died before receiving compensation at all.
When Lowe highlighted that reality, officials acknowledged the delays and described the situation as a matter of “deep regret.”
Billions paid — but thousands still waiting
Government representatives defended their record during the hearing, insisting that major progress has been made.
Officials stated that more than £1.4 billion has already been distributed through compensation schemes and that over 11,000 claimants have received payments. They argued that roughly 80% of eligible victims have now received money, with more cases expected to be resolved in the coming months.
Yet parliamentary reports published this year paint a more complicated picture.
The Business and Trade Committee warned that “serious structural failings” remain within the redress system. MPs found that many victims continue to face lengthy delays, inadequate offers and bureaucratic hurdles that have effectively forced them to relive their ordeal.
Committee chairman Liam Byrne described the situation as unacceptable, arguing that many victims remain trapped in a process that is too slow and too complex.
The question nobody could ignore
But it was Lowe’s next question that appeared to shift the entire mood of the hearing.
Why, he asked, has Fujitsu still not paid any compensation?
The Japanese technology company developed and maintained the Horizon system at the centre of the scandal. Yet despite repeated acknowledgements of its role, the compensation bill has so far been funded largely by British taxpayers.
“If they’ve made a mistake,” Lowe argued, “they should surely be the ones that should compensate.”
It is a question that has become increasingly difficult for politicians to answer.
The overall cost of compensation and associated redress schemes is now estimated at close to £2 billion. Yet Fujitsu has still not made a financial contribution despite repeatedly acknowledging a “moral obligation” to do so.
Recent parliamentary reports have sharply criticised the company, noting that it has not contributed “a penny” while continuing to benefit from public-sector contracts.
Ministers promise to push harder
Government officials insisted they share Lowe’s frustration.
During the hearing, they confirmed that discussions with Fujitsu are ongoing and that ministers are seeking a settlement. Officials argued that the final amount will likely depend on findings from the ongoing public inquiry into the scandal.
Importantly, they offered a clear assurance that the government intends to pursue the matter aggressively.
Officials said negotiations are continuing and indicated they would be prepared to take stronger action if necessary. They also stressed that Fujitsu has already recognised a moral responsibility to contribute toward compensation costs.
The problem, however, is that no figure has yet been agreed.
Earlier this year, Fujitsu executives faced intense criticism from MPs after refusing to say how much the company would contribute. Senior executives repeatedly declined to provide a number, insisting they were waiting for the conclusions of the Horizon Inquiry before making any commitment.
A scandal that refuses to go away
For many victims, the argument is no longer simply about money.
The Horizon scandal became a symbol of institutional failure on an extraordinary scale. Questions remain over who knew what, when they knew it and why warnings were ignored for so long.
The public inquiry led by Sir Wyn Williams is expected to deliver further findings that could answer some of those questions. Officials themselves have acknowledged that Post Office executives either knew or should have known about serious issues within the organisation.
Yet despite years of investigations, legal battles and political promises, many of the people at the centre of the scandal are still waiting for full closure.
That reality explains why Lowe’s comments struck such a chord.
His central argument was simple: if mistakes were made, those responsible should pay.
And until Fujitsu contributes to the compensation bill, many victims will continue to ask whether true accountability has really arrived.
For thousands of former sub-postmasters whose lives were turned upside down, that question remains painfully unanswered.
