# Independent review of Horizon rejections

> “In response, the Shortfall Independent Review will commence in late October. Eligible cases will be referred to an assessor independent of both Post Office and Government. This means no claimant will be refused HSS redress based on Post Office’s decision alone.”
>
> — Kate Dearden, Minister for the Future of Work, Labour Party; Written ministerial statement, 21 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Transport & economy](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/transport-and-economy)
- **Speaker:** [Kate Dearden](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/kate-dearden), Minister for the Future of Work
- **Party:** [Labour Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/labour)
- **Made on:** 21 October 2026
- **Where:** Written ministerial statement
- **Deadline:** 31 October 2026
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Postmasters told there is too little evidence for a Horizon Shortfall Scheme fixed sum offer
- **When:** Late October 2026
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-10-21/HCWS397 (checked word for word at its source on 25 October 2026; Open Parliament Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 25 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-horizon-shortfall-review-2026

## Where it stands

Sir Gary Hickinbottom recommended in May 2026 that a Post Office decision that there is too little evidence for a Horizon Shortfall Scheme fixed sum offer should be independently reviewed before a claim is rejected; the government and the Post Office accepted it. The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade's release says the review will begin later this month. "Late October" is read as 31 October 2026. The card moves when the government confirms the review has started.

## Timeline

- 21 October 2026, Promised: The Post Office minister says an independent review of claims the Post Office would reject for lack of evidence will start in late October
- 31 October 2026, Deadline (to come): Shortfall Independent Review due to start in late October 2026

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [Written ministerial statement HCWS397, 21 Oct 2026: Post Office Redress progress](https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-10-21/HCWS397)
- [Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade press release, 21 Oct 2026: New action on redress for postmasters affected by Post Office scandals](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-action-on-redress-for-postmasters-affected-by-post-office-scandals)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 25 October 2026.

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