Former Post Office minister apologises to campaigner over offensive letter
In a letter to Mr Bates in 2010, Sir Ed said the government had an arms length relationship with the Post Office
Alan Bates has said he took offence after former postal affairs minister Sir Ed Davey suggested the Post Office was "one step removed" from the government
Former Post Office minister Sir Ed Davey has apologised to campaigner Alan Bates for a letter he sent in 2010.
In the letter, Sir Ed said the government had an "arms length relationship" with the Post Office.
Mr Bates, who has been campaigning for justice for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal, said he took offence at the letter.
He said it suggested that the government was not responsible for the scandal, which saw hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly convicted of theft and fraud.
Sir Ed has now apologised for the letter, saying he "deeply regrets" any offence he caused.
He said he had met with Mr Bates to discuss the issue and that he is "committed to working with him to get justice for the victims of the Horizon scandal".
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