Alan Bates has been knighted in the King’s Birthday honours list. He described the award as “a very pleasant surprise”, telling BBC News’ Emma Simpson “I knew so many people who were keen for me to actually receive something, I felt I would be insulting them as much as anyone else if I refused it at this time.”

I am delighted for Sir Alan, and I am glad he has been recognised in this way. I think he was right to turn the OBE down and right to accept the K. I think this goes a tiny way towards putting some credibility back into our honours system.

Bates told Simpson he found out he was being offered the award via email whilst he was down in London to watch the first day of Paula Vennells’ evidence at the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. His first reaction was “this is weird!” – especially as he was told he had to inform the honours committee whether he would accept the award by the end of the day.

I’ve told Alan’s story many times over the years, most comprehensively in my book. You can also read my write-up of his evidence to the inquiry earlier this year, or read it in his own words in his witness statement on the inquiry website.

Bates told Simpson he was going to continue fighting for compensation for the Subpostmasters who fought the Post Office in the epic legal battle which bore his name, and he remains determined to take (a new Labour?) government to court if it doesn’t make good on this administration’s promise to pay proper financial redress.

Whilst Sir Alan has achieved a phenomenal amount through his own hard graft, there are other former campaigning Subpostmasters and professionals who supported those Subpostmasters I would like to see honoured too. I won’t name them – save Julian Wilson, who I would love to see getting posthumous recognition. I’m not suggesting they should all get Knight or Dame-hoods, but they deserve credit. It would also go some way to levelling up the distribution of honours in this country. Perhaps that will start to happen in the near future.

Today, though, belongs to Sir Alan. Hopefully he will take a moment to step back, look at all he’s achieved and give himself a pat on the back. I offer him my warmest congratulations.

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