83 minutes ago ‘I’m a pain in the backside ... an awkward sod’: Alan Bates on love, justice and the Post Office scandal

He became a household name after ITV turned Britain’s biggest miscarriage of justice into a drama. He reflects on his fight for compensation, turning down an OBE – and getting married on Richard Branson’s island Sir Alan Bates is at home in Llandudno with his wife Suzanne. Or, as he puts it, Lady Suzanne. You might know him better as Mr Bates from the Post Office scandal. He is the man who refused to give up when the Post Office told thousands of subpostmasters that they were inept or corrupt rather than acknowledging they were victims of flawed Horizon computer technology and managerial mendacity. It resulted in the biggest miscarriage of justice Britain has known – more than 900 people convicted of theft or false accounting, 236 jailed, numerous family breakdowns and at least four suicides.For 20 years, few of us knew about the scandal. But gradually his campaign built up steam, thanks largely to his tireless work. In January, ITV turned it into a gripping docudrama, Mr Bates vs t...

Society

83 minutes ago Champagne’s sordid secret: the homeless and hungry migrants picking grapes for France’s luxury winemakers

Exclusive: Guardian investigation finds an underpaid, underfed workforce, some of whom are forced to sleep on the streets, exploited by a system of labour providersPhotographs by Valentina Camu/Divergence for the GuardianA Guardian investigation has found workers in France’s champagne industry are being underpaid and forced to sleep on the streets and steal food to stave off hunger.Workers from west Africa and eastern Europe in the town of Épernay, home to the headquarters of some of the world’s most expensive champagne brands, including Moët & Chandon and Mercier, claim that they are either not being paid for their work or illegally underpaid by vineyards near the town. Continue reading...

Events

83 minutes ago The French city that's home to one of the world's best Christmas markets

The French city of Strasbourg is the perfect place to get into the festive spirit, as it's home to one of the world's best Christmas markets

Politics

88 minutes ago GB Energy will bring opportunities and risks for Scottish financial institutions

Funding challenges and generational divides will come into play when the headquarters in Aberdeen opens for business, writes Chris McLauchlan

Events

1 hour ago Council should deal with housing crisis head on and invest cash in proper facility for homeless

Council should invest cash in a proper facility, professionally run, that can deal with any overflow of homelessness, while a longer-term solution is found to the housing crisis. It is clearly needed.

Economics

1 hour ago Stock market today: Asian shares are mostly higher after Wall Street rally caps a dismal week

Shares are mostly higher in Asia after U.S. stocks capped a mostly dismal week with a broad rally

Politics

2 hours ago Arsenal transfer news: Newcastle explain Isak stance as Gunners face winger battle

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal kept themselves in touch at the top with a win at Crystal Palace on Saturday but it remains to be seen whether they will add to their ranks in January

Sport

3 hours ago Coronation Street star stuns fans as she says 'I'm glad ITV have got no money' in outburst

Coronation Street legend Sally Ann Matthews made an extraordinary dig at her employers ITV, as she claimed the broadcaster 'has no money' in a recent Q&A session

Politics

4 hours ago News Corp and Telstra agree sale of Foxtel to sports streaming service DAZN for $3.4bn

Pay TV channel sells along with the streaming services Kayo and Binge, subject to regulatory approvalGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNews Corp and Telstra will sell Foxtel in a $3.4bn deal with global sports streaming giant DAZN, relinquishing control of its entire portfolio of domestic and international sports broadcast rights including cricket, AFL and NRL.DAZN – owned by the second-richest man in Britain, Len Blavatnik – will take a majority stake in the Australian pay television business, including the Kayo and Binge streaming services and the Hubbl set-top box, subject to regulatory approval. Continue reading...

Economics

4 hours ago Celebrities who visited Wales in 2024 including Woody Harrelson and Tom Hardy

Wales has welcomed many famous faces over the past year

Politics