Bain to address MSPs over Horizon scandal

LORD Advocate Dorothy Bain has agreed to address the Scottish parliament over the Post Office Horizon scandal after the SNP and Greens had tried to stop her attending.

Ms Bain told MSPs in January she did not favour a blanket exoneration of all sub-postmasters convicted of fraud and each individual case should be considered on its merits. But SNP ministers are now trying to rush legislation through Holyrood to clear the names of those involved – while also batting away opposition demands to know her opinion on it.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross recently brought forward a parliamentary amendment to try to force the Lord Advocate to come to Holyrood, but this was voted down by SNP and Green MSPs. Last night, however, Scotland’s chief law officer – who attends Cabinet meetings – agreed to attend parliament after Mr Ross wrote to her.

In his letter, he said that Ms Bain’s ‘stance is not a technicality, but fundamentally important as to how this legislation will operate in reality’.

A Crown Office spokesman said: ‘The Lord Advocate is fully supportive of her accountability to parliament. She hopes to come to an agreement with parliamentary authorities about the timing of this statement at the earliest possible opportunity.

‘She made the decision to give the statement independently.’

The new legislation is due to be debated later this month.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We are now bringing forward a Bill that will ensure justice and compensation is delivered equally to postmasters.’