Post Office hero Alan Bates claims his well-deserved knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours list is "another weapon in his arsenal" as he vowed to continue the fight for justice.
The former sub-postmaster, 70, has finally been recognised for his 20-year campaign to expose the Horizon computer scandal. His tireless work has forced the Government to overturn the convictions of hundreds of innocent workers accused of stealing from the Post Office.
Mr Bates initially refused to accept an OBE while former boss Paula Vennells held a CBE given to her in 2019. He argued that accepting the honour would be a "slap in the face" to the victims who faced financial ruin and prison.
But after Vennells relinquished her honour amid huge public pressure, Mr Bates has now accepted the highest honour. He said he was "happy" to collect the gong on behalf of all the Post Office scandal victims - but said he wanted to secure them compensation as soon as possible.
READ THE FULL LIST OF WHO HAS BEEN AWARDED AN HONOUR BY KING CHARLES - CICK HERE
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Alan Bates has been a tireless campaigner for justice in the wake of the Post Office's Horizon scandalIn an exclusive interview, he told the Mirror: "The main thing for me is to make sure that the original group gets their money and they get it now. It's been going on far too long all of this and if this honour is another weapon in my arsenal to help move this along then so be it.
"Since the judgement, that's what's been important to people. People need to get on with their lives and put all this behind them. Unless this picks up speed and actually starts delivering these settlements for people we're going to have to look at other options come the autumn. I don't allow these things [the knighthood] to become a distraction."
Mr Bates joined a galaxy of sports stars, celebrities, politicians and everyday heroes from across the country to be recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list. A total of 1,077 people were included on the list of people described as "change makers and innovators" who "have had an immeasurable impact on the lives of people across the country".
Toby Jones as Alan Bates in the hit ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post OfficeMr Bates' tireless campaigning was portrayed by actor Toby Jones, 69, in ITV's Mr Bates vs The Post Office drama. It revealed how more than 900 UK sub-postmasters were prosecuted for theft in the early 2000s due to a faulty computer system. Jones has described Mr Bates as a "hero".
But Mr Bates said: "The whole thing has snowballed into something a lot larger, we just set off to expose the truth. But a lot more has come out of it at the end of the day and there is still a heck of a lot more to come out in the future.
"I'm delighted to accept the award in recognition of not just what I've done but what so many others have suffered, the hell they have been through, the seriousness of this and it being recognised generally. The drama exposed this to the nation and it was absolutely excellent in getting over the suffering that had been inflicted on so many by such a huge state controlled organisation.
Former post office workers celebrating outside the Royal Courts of Justice, London, after their convictions were overturned by the Court of Appeal. (ITV)"But it didn't really cover the story in depth and I think a lot more of the story is now appearing and there is significantly more to come."
Speaking on his decision to turn down an OBE last year but to accept the knighthood: "I turned down that for a reason, which was quite sound at that time, because of Paula Vennells and her CBE. I think people would have been rightfully annoyed and upset if I had accepted anything at that time, but now I get a lot of messages from people who think I should be recognised and I think people might be annoyed if I refused it again.
"So many people want some sort of recognition, not just for me but for the whole group."
More than 130,000 people signed a Daily Mirror petition earlier this year demanding that Mr Bates be honoured. Now he has finally been recognised in King Charles' second birthdays honours list. Asked how he thinks the rest of the Post Office victims will react, Mr Bates said: "I hope they will be delighted because I'm not just accepting it for myself I'm accepting it on behalf of all of us and this whole issue which should never have happened in the first place.
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Alan Bates at home with is partner Suzanne Sercombe
Alan Bates on his way to appear before the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry back in April (Tim Merry/Mirror Express)Asked how his partner Suzanne reacted, he laughed: "I think you should say she's pleased for me." Despite the accolade, Mr Bates maintains he will not be going over the top with celebrations.
He joked: "Funnily enough I've just come to the pet shop, I've got to buy some more cat litter. I really know how to live well. I might get a stroll in if it stops raining."
Charles, 75, who is still receiving cancer treatment, released his honours list as he was due to attend the Trooping the Colour at his official birthday parade tomorrow.
The King will also attend the annual Garter Day service at Windsor Castle on Monday, joined by the Queen.
Ladies and Knights of the Garter - the oldest order of chivalry - will join the procession. New Companions, including composer Andrew Lloyd- Webber, will be installed.
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