Page Description
When push comes to shove means taking action and making decisions in challenging or critical moments.
1 The Moment of Truth: When Words No Longer Suffice
The phrase “when push comes to shove” signals a moment of truth—when situations escalate, and real intentions are revealed. It describes the point at which words and promises no longer suffice, and decisive action must be taken. Often, this is when power imbalances become clear: those who seemed trustworthy may abandon their commitments, while others are forced to bear the consequences.
In the context of justice and accountability, this phrase captures the moment when those in power must either stand by their principles or reveal their self-interest. But who ends up paying the price when push truly comes to shove?
Het Moment van de Waarheid: Als Woorden Niet Meer Volstaan
De uitdrukking “when push comes to shove” markeert het moment van de waarheid—wanneer situaties escaleren en ware intenties aan het licht komen. Dit is het punt waarop woorden en beloften niet langer volstaan en er knopen moeten worden doorgehakt. Vaak worden hier machtsverhoudingen duidelijk: wie betrouwbaar leek, kan zijn beloften verbreken, terwijl anderen de gevolgen moeten dragen.
In de context van gerechtigheid en verantwoording vat deze uitdrukking het moment samen waarop machthebbers moeten kiezen tussen principes en eigenbelang. Maar wie betaalt de prijs als het er echt op aankomt?
The expression “When push comes to shove” encompasses several key points:
Critical Situation: The phrase is used to describe a moment of truth or a critical situation where decisions or actions must be taken.
Decision Time: It implies that a situation has reached a point where it demands a resolution or a firm decision.
Pressure or Difficulty: The use of “push” and “shove” suggests a sense of pressure or difficulty, indicating that the circumstances have become challenging or demanding.
Revealing True Intentions: It often implies that people’s true intentions or reactions become apparent when faced with a challenging situation.
Action is Inevitable: The expression suggests that, ultimately, action or a decision is unavoidable. It emphasizes the need for decisive steps or choices when confronted with difficult circumstances.
Overall, “When push comes to shove” encapsulates the idea that in challenging or critical moments, individuals must take action and make decisions to navigate through the situation.
2 When Justice Fails: The Madness of Ignoring the Obvious
The case of Liam Allan is a striking example of how easily the justice system can fail when basic safeguards are ignored. The evidence that should have exonerated him was there all along—had the police simply conducted a basic keyword search on the phone data, the entire case would have collapsed before it even began.
This raises a haunting question: Why do these cases go forward when the evidence proving innocence is so readily available?
In the Post Office scandal, the software failures were known, yet Subpostmasters were still prosecuted as if the system was infallible. Just like a software engineer contact pointed out—“je moet gek zijn”—it is sheer madness to accuse people when the flaws in the system are evident.
There seems to be a disturbing pattern across these cases:
Institutional reluctance to admit mistakes. Authorities press forward even when red flags appear.
Blind trust in flawed systems. Whether it’s software (Horizon) or investigative procedures (police handling of evidence), authorities often assume their methods are infallible.
Career and reputational incentives. Prosecutors and police may feel pressure to secure convictions rather than seek the truth.
Lack of individual accountability. When failures occur, responsibility is diffused within large institutions, so no one steps in to halt a wrongful prosecution.
The title of this website, “Justice versus Conscience,” captures this perfectly. These cases should never have reached court, yet they did. Not because of complexity, but because no one was willing to stop and apply basic common sense.
Wanneer Justitie Faalt: De Waanzin van het Negeren van het Overduidelijke
De zaak van Liam Allan is een treffend voorbeeld van hoe gemakkelijk het rechtssysteem kan falen wanneer fundamentele waarborgen worden genegeerd. Het bewijs dat zijn onschuld bewees, was er al die tijd – als de politie simpelweg een basiszoekopdracht op trefwoorden in de telefoongegevens had uitgevoerd, zou de hele zaak al ingestort zijn voordat deze begon.
Dit roept een huiveringwekkende vraag op: waarom worden deze zaken doorgezet terwijl het bewijs van onschuld zo duidelijk voorhanden is?
In het Post Office-schandaal waren de fouten in de software bekend, en toch werden Subpostmasters vervolgd alsof het systeem onfeilbaar was. Zoals een software-engineer contact al opmerkte – “je moet gek zijn” – het is pure waanzin om mensen te beschuldigen terwijl de gebreken in het systeem overduidelijk zijn.
Er lijkt een verontrustend patroon zichtbaar te zijn in deze zaken:
Institutionele onwil om fouten toe te geven. Autoriteiten blijven doorgaan, zelfs wanneer er waarschuwingssignalen zijn.
Blind vertrouwen in gebrekkige systemen. Of het nu gaat om software (Horizon) of onderzoeksprocedures (politieonderzoek naar bewijs), autoriteiten gaan er vaak vanuit dat hun methoden onfeilbaar zijn.
Carrière- en reputatiebelangen. Aanklagers en politie kunnen onder druk staan om veroordelingen te behalen in plaats van de waarheid te achterhalen.
Gebrek aan individuele verantwoordelijkheid. Wanneer fouten zich voordoen, wordt de verantwoordelijkheid verspreid binnen grote instellingen, waardoor niemand ingrijpt om een onterechte vervolging te stoppen.
De titel van deze website, “Justice versus Conscience,” vat dit perfect samen. Deze zaken hadden nooit voor de rechter mogen komen, en toch gebeurde het. Niet vanwege complexiteit, maar omdat niemand bereid was om even stil te staan en simpelweg gezond verstand toe te passen.
3 Jo Hamilton’s Black and White Story: What Was Wrong with Horizon
9 jan 2024 #ThisMorning
It’s the scandal still dominating the headlines after the new ITV Drama ‘Mr. Bates vs the Post Office’ has shone a light on the terrible miscarriage of justice in which dozens of innocent sub-postmasters were wrongfully convicted and lost everything. Today, we’re joined by one of the real people whose shocking story was told in the drama – Jo Hamilton, alongside the star who played her Monica Dolan.
Broadcast on 09/01/2024
2 Post Office Lawyer Jarnail Singh CUTS ACROSS Jason Beer KC
13 feb 2024
Post Office Lawyer Jarnial Singh CUTS ACROSS Jason Beer KC as he corrects his witness statement to the Post Office Inquiry.
Jason Beer KC requests multiple times that former Post Office Lawyer Jarnial Singh allows his to complete a question before delivering an answer.
In addition to corrections to his statement, Sir Wyn Williams delivers Mr Singh a warning against self incrimination and confirms that he does have a lawyer at the Post Office Inquiry.
The most significant correction is with his ‘limited’ relationship with Gareth Jenkins becoming much more substantial.
3 Post Office investigator challenged over failure to follow up on ‘glitches’ in Horizon IT system
24 jan 2024
A Post Office investigator was challenged over his reaction to a helpline telling postmaster there were ‘glitches’ in the Horizon IT system.
Raymond Grant, a former investigator, was challenged during the inquiry into the scandal that saw hundreds of post office employees convicted due to errors in the system.
4 The Inconceivable Injustice
People of unquestionable integrity find themselves trapped in a nightmare they could never have foreseen—an existence where justice does not apply to them.
In the video Bates Knighthood (below), Lady Suzanne Bates says, “Not Leading a Normal Life.” This phrase speaks to the extraordinary dedication of Alan Bates, who fought for over 20 years to expose the injustices of the Post Office scandal. But it also applies to those who never had a choice—those whose lives were shattered not by their own actions, but by a system that refused to see them as innocent.
Take Liam Allan, a criminology student whose life was nearly destroyed by false accusations. Or John Bunn, a 14-year-old child who was asleep in his own home when a corrupt detective framed him for murder, sending him to prison for 17 years. These are not stories of reckless decisions leading to disaster. These are stories of people thrown into an abyss they never could have imagined.
For many, exoneration never comes. And even when it does, what remains of their lives? After years in prison, after being branded guilty, after society turns its back—what does freedom even mean? Some, like Seema Misra, stood on the brink of ending their own lives. Because beyond the legal injustice, there is something even more devastating: the erasure of a future.
When the justice system fails, life as you knew it ceases to exist. And for many, there is no way back.
De Onbegrijpelijke Onrechtvaardigheid
Mensen van onbetwistbare integriteit vinden zich gevangen in een nachtmerrie die ze nooit hadden kunnen voorzien—een bestaan waarin de rechtvaardigheid hen niet beschermt.
In de video Bates Knighthood (hieronder) zegt Lady Suzanne Bates: “Niet een normaal leven leiden.” Deze uitspraak verwijst naar de buitengewone toewijding van Alan Bates, die meer dan 20 jaar vocht om de onrechtvaardigheden van het Post Office-schandaal aan het licht te brengen. Maar het geldt ook voor degenen die geen keuze hadden—degenen wiens levens werden verwoest, niet door hun eigen daden, maar door een systeem dat hen weigerde als onschuldig te zien.
Neem Liam Allan, een criminologie-student wiens leven bijna werd vernietigd door valse beschuldigingen. Of John Bunn, een 14-jarig kind dat in zijn eigen huis lag te slapen toen een corrupte detective hem ten onrechte beschuldigde van moord, waardoor hij 17 jaar in de gevangenis belandde. Dit zijn geen verhalen van roekeloze beslissingen die tot een ramp leiden. Dit zijn verhalen van mensen die in een afgrond werden geworpen die ze nooit hadden kunnen voorzien.
Voor velen komt de vrijspraak nooit. En zelfs wanneer deze wel komt, wat blijft er dan nog van hun leven over? Na jaren in de gevangenis, na onterecht schuldig verklaard te zijn, na door de samenleving te zijn afgewezen—wat betekent vrijheid dan nog? Sommigen, zoals Seema Misra, stonden op het punt hun eigen leven te beëindigen. Want naast de juridische onrechtvaardigheid is er iets nog verwoestender: de uitwissing van een toekomst.
Wanneer het rechtssysteem faalt, bestaat het leven zoals je het kende niet meer. En voor velen is er geen weg meer terug.
4 Post Office: Sir Alan Bates accepts knighthood but threatens legal action over compensation delays
26 sep 2024 #uknews #postoffice #alanbates
Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates has threatened legal action if compensation for victims of the Horizon IT scandal doesn’t come soon.
The 70-year-old has received a knighthood at Windsor Castle for services to justice, but speaking to Sky’s Adele Robinson afterwards he said he hasn’t “heard a word” from the new government over financial redress.
A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: ”Ministers continue to meet with those affected by the Horizon scandal and it is as a priority to work with them to get swift and fair redress paid.
“Since July we have taken swift action to launch the new Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme and announced a new appeals process in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme in order to speed up payments further.
“Although we support targets that show how quickly offers are made after claims are submitted, we are concerned that setting a target for the GLO scheme would put pressure on vulnerable postmasters who may need more time to finalise their claim with their lawyers.
“Almost £290 million has been paid to over 2,800 claimants across four compensation schemes, but we know there is more to be done, and we are committed to ensuring every postmaster receives full and fair redress as quickly as possible.”
5 Alan Bates says he was fired because the Post Office ‘didn’t like me standing up to them’
9 apr 2024 #yemen #rishisunak #sunak
Alan Bates says the Post Office terminated his contract as a sub-postmaster because “they didn’t like me standing up to them”.
The inquiry hears he received a letter terminating his employment in 2003 in which no reason for his dismissal was given.
Mr Bates founded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, and led a group of 555 sub-postmasters who took the Post Office to the High Court over the scandal.
His story became the subject of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, starring Toby Jones.
5 By comparison: “When push comes to shove” and “Make or break”
The case of Liam Allan was a dramatic example of justice nearly failing due to a critical failure in disclosure. During the court proceedings, it came to light that there was a DVD containing crucial evidence—something neither Liam, his lawyer, nor even the prosecutor, Jerry Hayes, had been aware of. This moment in court was the true “when push comes to shove” event—forcing the prosecution to act and disclose the evidence.
Realizing the potential significance of the DVD, Jerry Hayes adjourned the case for a day. That night, Liam Allan’s lawyer meticulously reviewed the messages and searched for the word “rape.” What they discovered was undeniable: the messages showed that the encounter had not been against the woman’s will. The entire case collapsed.
This night of urgent investigation became the “make or break” moment. If the DVD had not been reviewed in time, Liam Allan could have been wrongfully convicted. As Jerry Hayes later reflected in a conversation with Liam Allan’s lawyer, it had been “the eleventh hour”—one minute to twelve.
De zaak van Liam Allan was een schrijnend voorbeeld van hoe justitie bijna faalde door een ernstig gebrek aan bewijsvoering. Tijdens de rechtszitting kwam aan het licht dat er een dvd bestond met cruciaal bewijs—iets waar noch Liam, noch zijn advocaat, noch zelfs de aanklager Jerry Hayes van op de hoogte was. Dit moment in de rechtszaal was het ware “wanneer puntje bij paaltje komt”– het dwong de aanklager om te handelen en het bewijs vrij te geven.
Zich bewust van het mogelijke belang van de dvd, schorste Jerry Hayes de zaak voor een dag. Die nacht doorzocht de advocaat van Liam Allan zorgvuldig de berichten en zocht op het woord “verkrachting.” Wat ze ontdekten was onweerlegbaar: de berichten toonden aan dat de seksuele handeling niet tegen de wil van de vrouw was. De hele zaak stortte in elkaar.
Deze nacht van intensief onderzoek werd het “erop of eronder”-moment. Als de dvd niet op tijd was bekeken, had Liam Allan ten onrechte veroordeeld kunnen worden. Zoals Jerry Hayes later in een gesprek met de advocaat van Liam Allan opmerkte, was het “het elfde uur”—één minuut voor twaalf.
Both expressions convey urgency and a decisive turning point, though “Erop of eronder” feels even more like a do-or-die situation.
“Wanneer puntje bij paaltje komt” → “When push comes to shove” (When things get serious, when a decision must be made).
“Erop of eronder” → “Make or break” (A critical moment where success or failure is determined).
Here are some alternatives with slight nuances:
For “When push comes to shove” (“Wanneer puntje bij paaltje komt”):
🔹 “Als het erop aankomt” – When it really matters.
🔹 “Op het moment van de waarheid” – The moment of truth.
For “Make or break” (“Erop of eronder”):
🔹 “Nu of nooit” – Now or never (if it’s a crucial opportunity).
🔹 “Alles of niets” – All or nothing (if it’s a high-stakes gamble).
Idiom (also if push comes to shove)
When all the easy answers to a problem have not worked, and something else must be tried:
Only a few people were there to help me when push came to shove.
Cambridge Dictionary
The English equivalent of the Dutch saying
“Als punt bij paaltje komt” is
“When push comes to shove” or
“When it comes down to it.”
It is used to convey the idea that, in the end or when the situation becomes critical, decisive action or a clear choice will be made.
When matters become critical; when a decision needs to be made
in American English
if push comes to shove
When or if matters are ultimately confronted or resolved; when or if a problem must be faced; in a crucial situation
If push comes to shove, the government will impose quotas on imports
Collins
6 LIVE: Post Office inquiry: watch as Tory peer gives evidence
The inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal will continue today with Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom, a Conservative Peer, set to give evidence.
7 The Post Office Horizon Scandal: Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom on campaigning for justice | House of Lords
8 jan 2024 #UKParliament #PostOffice #Horizon
James Arbuthnot – now Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom – was MP for Northeast Hampshire at the time of the Post Office Horizon Scandal. His constituent Jo Hamilton, was one of the subpostmasters affected and he has been campaigning, alongside others, ever since.
Hear more from Lord Arbuthnot on Horizon and its background, what has happened since and what he hopes will happen next in this clip from the House of Lords Podcast, recorded in June 2021.
8 Little Girls Taking Tequila Shots Prank
18 jul 2018
WATCH MORE GAGS CONTENT: