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The government will give ‘recognition’ payments to Post Office Capture victims before they receive full compensation.

Former sub-postmasters and their families who are entitled to redress have been told the initial amount, which is yet to be finalised, could be £10,000.

Capture was a faulty computer system used by sub postmasters in the 1990s – before the Horizon scandal.

A report last year found the software is likely to have caused errors in accounting.

A redress scheme is currently being set up for those affected and could possibly be introduced by the end of the summer.

Steve Marston, a Capture user who was convicted of stealing from his Post Office in 1996, describes “quite a lot of progress” at a government meeting but raised concerns over pace.

He told Sky News: “I’m more than happy that the compensation scheme is going to be put in place as quickly as possible.

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“None of us are guaranteed how long we’re going to be here. We just want people to see recognition as soon as possible.”

Steve and Jan Marston
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Steve Marston with his wife Jan

Ken Tooby’s late wife June was a Capture victim. Ken is seriously ill in hospital so his family has sent a plea to the government to “sort this Capture business asap”.

June Tooby represented herself in court in 2003 and challenged the Post Office over its “faulty” software system.

The evidence she compiled led to the Kroll investigation into Capture concluding there was a “reasonable likelihood” the software caused accounting errors.

Another victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Sky News he was “frustrated” at the slow progress of redress, describing it as “like pulling teeth”.

He also raised concerns over interim payments potentially being “too low”, claiming the government may be trying to “keep people sweet”.

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PO miscarriages of justice cases ‘double’

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), meanwhile, is currently investigating 28 convictions and it’s hoped decisions will be made over whether to refer cases to the Court of Appeal by the end of the year.

Neil Hudgell, lawyer for Capture victims, said there was a “positive dialogue” at the latest meeting between government officials and families.

“The real frustration is the time it takes because of the processes that are involved,” he said. “I can see why it would take as long as it has.

“But [victims] just want peace and to see the end of it… There’s a real acute need to bring matters to a close.”

On timescales, he said there were “no guarantees” but a “guesstimate” was that redress will start “to flow… in the second half of the year”.

Mr Hudgell said he would be “disappointed” if conviction cases have not been progressed by the CCRC by this autumn.

“I don’t under emphasise the amount of work they’ve got – it involves multiple cases… I think they’ve got enough evidence now to start to formulate a decision,” he said.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: “Postmasters have already endured immeasurable suffering, and we continue to listen to those who have been sharing their stories on the Capture system.

“Ensuring postmasters are treated with dignity and respect is our absolute priority.

“Officials met with postmasters [on Wednesday] as part of our commitment to develop an effective and fair redress process for those affected by Capture.

“We will continue to update on the development of the redress mechanism as it progresses.”

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Rachel Reeves is celebrating the Bank of England’s interest cut – but behind the scenes she has little to cheer

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Rachel Reeves is celebrating the Bank of England's interest cut – but behind the scenes she has little to cheer

The economy is stagnating and job losses are mounting. Now is the time to cut interest rates again.

That was the view of the Bank of England’s nine-member rate setting committee on Thursday.

Well, at least five of them.

The other four presented us with a different view: Inflation is above target and climbing – this is no time to cut interest rates.

Who is right? All of them and none of them.

Central bankers have been backed into a corner by the current economic climate and navigating a path out is challenging.

The difficulty in charting that route was on display as the Bank struggled to decide on the best course of monetary policy.

The committee had to take it to a re-vote for the first time in the Bank’s history.

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Bank of England is ‘a bit muddled’

On one side, central bankers – including Andrew Bailey – were swayed by the data on the economy. Growth is “subdued”, they said, and job losses are mounting.

This should weigh on wage increases, which are already moderating, and in turn inflation.

One member, Alan Taylor, was so worried about the economy he initially suggested a larger half a percentage point cut.

On the other side, their colleagues were alarmed by inflation.

The Bank upgraded its inflation forecasts, with the headline index expected to hit 4% in September.

In a blow to the chancellor, the September figure is used to uprate a number of benefits and pensions. The Bank lifted it from a previous forecast of 3.75%.

In explaining the increase, the Bank blamed higher utility bills and food prices.

Food price inflation could hit 5.5% this year, an increase driven by poor harvests, some expensive packaging regulations as well as higher employment costs arising from the Autumn Budget.

Rachel Reeves on Thursday. Pic: PA
Image:
Rachel Reeves on Thursday. Pic: PA

When pressed by Sky News on the main contributor to that increase – poor harvests or government policy – the governor said: “It’s about 50-50.”

The Bank doesn’t like to get political but nothing about this is flattering for the chancellor.

The Bank said food retailers, including supermarkets, were passing on higher national insurance and living wage costs – the ones announced in the Autumn Budget – to customers.

Economists at the Bank pointed out that food retailers employ a large proportion of low wage workers and are more vulnerable to the lowering of the national insurance threshold because they have a larger proportion of part-time workers.

The danger doesn’t end there.

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Of all the types of inflation, food price inflation is among the most dangerous.

Households spend 11% of their disposable income, meaning higher food price inflation can play an outsized role in our perception of how high overall inflation in the economy is.

When that happens, workers are more likely to push for pay rises, a dangerous loop that can lead to higher inflation.

So while the chancellor is publicly celebrating the Bank’s fifth interest rate cut in a year, behind the scenes she will have very little to cheer.

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Tropical Storm Dexter to bring potential heatwave next week

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Tropical Storm Dexter to bring potential heatwave next week

Remnants of Tropical Storm Dexter will bring an increase in temperatures over the weekend, with highs of 34C possible next week.

A heatwave could be registered in parts of the South early next week and could spread more widely if temperatures hold.

Temperatures of 28C (82F) are possible in the South on Sunday, reaching 30C (86F) across parts of England on Monday before getting closer to 34C (93F) on Tuesday.

Pic: Joe Giddens/PA
Image:
Pic: Joe Giddens/PA

Warm and muggy nights are to be expected, especially in the South.

Conditions will be more unsettled in the North, with strong winds and rain at times.

People punting along the River Cam in Cambridge last month. Pic: PA
Image:
People punting along the River Cam in Cambridge last month. Pic: PA

In its forecast the Met Office said Friday will be a brighter day for many, with sunny spells across southern and central areas and highs of 25-26C expected. Northern Scotland will be breezy with showery outbreaks of rain.

Saturday will also see sunny spells for much of England and Wales, but there will be some rain in northern areas, paritcularly northern Scotland.

People enjoying the hot weather on Sunny Sands beach in Folkestone last month. Pic: PA
Image:
People enjoying the hot weather on Sunny Sands beach in Folkestone last month. Pic: PA

A weather front moving in from the west will bring rain to Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland and possibly northern England by Sunday evening, while central and southern areas are expected to remain dry with sunny spells.

Temperatures will begin to rise in the South from Sunday evening, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Dexter “draws warm air up from the southwest across the UK”, the Met Office said.

Temperatures are expected to exceed 30C across parts of central, southern and eastern England on Monday and Tuesday, the forecaster added.

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“We’re confident that temperatures will increase markedly by the start of next week, reaching the low 30s Celsius in parts of England on Monday and perhaps the mid 30s in a few places on Tuesday,” said Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates.

“However, the length of this warm spell is still uncertain, and it is possible that high temperatures could persist further into next week, particularly in the south.”

“Ex-Dexter sets the wheels in motion for an uptick in temperatures, but the weather patterns then maintaining any hot weather are rather more uncertain”.

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Sentebale war of words continues as charity calls for clarity on commission’s probe into Prince Harry claims

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Sentebale war of words continues as charity calls for clarity on commission's probe into Prince Harry claims

The war of words over Sentebale is continuing, with the charity calling on the Charity Commission to provide clarity that its recent report did not specifically investigate claims of racism and misogyny against Prince Harry. 

Sources close to the Duke of Sussex claim they are “rehashing unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more”, describing their latest move as not “just provocative, it’s pitiful”.

A source at Sentebale has told Sky News: “We have written to The Charity Commission stating that the onus is on the commission to restate for the record that individual allegations of bullying have not been investigated or addressed in the commission’s report.”

It comes after the Charity Commission report stated that “based on the evidence provided and reviewed by the commission, it found no evidence of: widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity”.

However, the commission added that it “acknowledged the strong perception of ill treatment felt by a number of parties to the dispute and the impact this may have had on them personally”.

But sources at Sentebale believe the reporting around this statement – that Prince Harry has been cleared of bullying – has been inaccurate, as the charity watchdog did not specifically look at allegations made by the chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, including during an exclusive interview on Sky News.

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From March 2025: Charity chair’s bullying claims on Sky News

A source close to Prince Harry and the former board of trustees has hit back, and said: “It’s remarkable, just yesterday Ms Chanduaka was applauding the Charity Commission’s findings, yet today, after a flurry of unflattering headlines, she’s back on the warpath.

“Issuing yet another media statement only reinforces the commission’s criticism about using the press to air internal disputes.

“Rehashing unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more, which the commission found no evidence of and dressing them up as veiled threats isn’t just provocative, it’s pitiful.

“If Ms Chanduaka has genuine concerns, she should spell them out plainly or, better yet, redirect her energy toward something truly worthwhile, like raising money for the children Sentebale exists to support.”

It’s understood Prince Harry and his supporters have also been left unsatisfied by the scope of the report, including their concerns about money spent on consultants that was authorised by Dr Chandauka.

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Responding to Sky News, the Charity Commission said: “We have issued the charity with an action plan which sets out steps the current trustees need to take to improve governance weaknesses and rectify findings of mismanagement.

“We now urge all involved to put their differences behind them and allow the charity to focus on its work and beneficiaries”.

Their report, released on Wednesday, was highly critical of all parties for allowing their disagreement to play out so publicly and allowing it to severely impact the charity’s reputation.

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