Kemi Badenoch said she would make a statement on Monday «telling the truth.» about what happened Photo: Anadolu
The business minister accused the former chairman of the post office of lying about the Horizon scandal.
Kemi Badenoch launched an attack on Henry Staunton on Sunday after he said in an interview that a senior government official had advised him to slow down the payment of compensation to deputy postmasters to allow the Tories to «limp» through the next election.
Ms Badenoch, who sacked him as chairman last month, said his comments were «full of lies» and accused him of failing to get justice for postmasters.
In a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, she said whistleblowers had made allegations about his behavior and suggested he had misrepresented his conversations with her.
She said she would make a statement on Monday, «telling the truth.» about what happened.
More than 4,000 people have been told they will be entitled to compensation as a result of the Horizon Post Office scandal.
Errors in Horizon software by Japanese technology company Fujitsu led to a shortfall being reported that does not exist . More than 900 deputy postmasters were prosecuted after they were accused of lack of funds, resulting in some of them serving time in prison.
The government has been repeatedly criticized for its treatment of deputy postmasters, some of whom have never received any compensation from three government schemes despite having their lives ruined.
Following ITV drama Mr Bates v The Post » In a news release earlier this year, the government announced legislation that would quickly exonerate all deputy postmasters who were wrongly convicted.
Mr Staunton told the Sunday Times there had been a request from a civil servant to slow down the payment of compensation. shortly after he became Chairman of the Post Office in December 2022.
Henry Staunton was removed from his position as Chairman of the Post Office Ms Badenoch
The former chairman of WH Smith said the order to suspend payments appears to be an attempt by the government to reduce its financial obligations before the country goes to the polls.
He added that the demand had come from a senior civil servant at the Department for Business and International Trade, which oversees the Post Office.
The 75-year-old said: “Initially I was advised by a fairly senior person to hold off on compensation and replacement costs for the Horizon and limp along. , in quotes — I made a note about this — limp to the elections.
“It wasn’t an anti-postmaster thing, it was just financial performance. I didn't ask because I said, «I'm not involved in this — I'm not here to limp to the polls, that's the wrong thing for the postmasters to do.» about where they were.»
He also claimed that when Ms Badenoch contacted him to fire him, she told him: «Well, someone has to take responsibility for this.» .
“Shameful performance”
But on Sunday afternoon Ms Badenoch, who is tipped to be a future Tory leader, wrote on X (previously on Twitter) that the interview was a «disgraceful misrepresentation of my conversation with him and the reasons for his sacking».
She said: “I didn't just take the rap, I sacked Staunton because of very serious allegations about his behavior as chairman of the Post Office, including blocking an investigation into that behavior. My department is responsible for whistleblowers, and I would not ignore the allegations.
“I called Staunton officials. The full recording was made.
“During his dismissal, he gave an interview full of lies about our conversation. Details will appear soon enough, as I will not leave the matter where it is, but will be discussing it with government lawyers.
“Henry Staunton lacked the acumen to get justice for the postmasters. Serious concerns about his behavior were the reason I asked him to resign.
“The fact that he chose to go to the media with made-up anecdotes and a series of lies confirms that I made the right decision …< /p>
«Tomorrow we will make a statement telling the truth about what is happening.»
The Telegraph understands he was removed from office after the government was informed that Mr Staunton had allegedly blocked whistleblowers concerned about his approach to delivering justice to postmasters.
A Business Department source said: “The evidence against Staunton was such that ministers had to act.
“The truth will come out.”
“But Kemi decided not to mention the allegations out of fear for his reputation. Now we see what happens when ministers make difficult decisions and sack people who need to be sacked — they run to the media and speak out against them. The truth will come out.»
Mr Staunton suggested that he believed each of the affected assistant postmasters should be offered £1 million.
Although nearly £140 million in compensation has been paid out, many sub-postmasters are experiencing delays and claim the schemes are too bureaucratic.
Mr Staunton also said in the interview that the Post Office still employs more than 40 investigators involved in the wrongful prosecution of deputy postmasters. He said the investigators were known internally as «untouchables» because of the power they wielded.
Mr Staunton's spokesman told the BBC his client would not comment further. but supports the accusations made in The Sunday Times.
They also said no investigation had been carried out into Mr Staunton.
Alan Bates' campaign for justice for subpostmasters has been portrayed in the ITV drama. Photo: PA/Sam Tobin
Alan Bates, whose campaign for justice for subpostmasters was depicted in the ITV drama series, told The Sunday Times: «It has long been clear that the government, for all its fine talk, is doing everything it can to slow down or stop payments in the [scheme]. group litigation] because that is actually what is happening.
“These schemes need to be taken out of the hands of the government, and I am sure there are many commercial organizations that could provide fair and prompt financial redress victims as soon as possible.”
A government spokesman said: “The government has accelerated the payment of compensation to victims and has continually encouraged postmasters to come forward with their claims. Assuming that any actions or conversations happened the other way around is incorrect. In fact, on his appointment, Mr Staunton was given specific written tasks aimed at achieving a settlement with the claimants, which is a clear indication of the Government's intentions.
“The Secretary of State asked Henry Staunton to resign as Chairman of the Post Office , because a change in leadership was necessary.”
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