Former Post Office chair claims he was told to stall Horizon compensation
Former Post Office chairman Henry Staunton claimed he was told to stall Horizon compensation to help the government “limp into the election”.
Former Post Office chairman Henry Staunton has claimed he was told to stall Horizon scandal compensation payments to help the government “limp into the election”.
The ex-WH Smith chairman, who was appointed in 2022, made the claim in an interview with The Sunday Times, where he also suggested that the organisation is still a “mess” and affected by a “toxic” atmosphere.
Staunton, who was sacked by the government last month, told the paper: “Early on, I was told by a fairly senior person to stall on spending on compensation and on the replacement of Horizon, and to limp, in quotation marks – I did a file note on it – limp into the election.
“It was not an anti-postmaster thing, it was just straight financials. I didn’t ask, because I said, ‘I’m having no part of it – I’m not here to limp into the election, it’s not the right thing to do by postmasters.’
“The word ‘limp’ gives you a snapshot of where they were.”
A government spokesperson said: “We utterly refute these allegations. The government has sped up compensation to victims, and consistently encouraged postmasters to come forward with their claims.
“To suggest any actions or conversations happened to the contrary is incorrect. In fact, upon appointment, Staunton was set concrete objectives, in writing, to focus on reaching settlements with claimants – clear evidence of the government’s intent.
“The Secretary of State asked Staunton to step down as chairman of the Post Office because a change in leadership was needed.”
Business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch hit back at Staunton’s claims, which included that he allegedly learned about his sacking following a phone call from Sky News.
In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, Badenoch said his comments were a “disgraceful misrepresentation of my conversation with him and the reasons for his dismissal.
“Henry Staunton had a lack of grip getting justice for postmasters. The serious concerns over his conduct were the reasons I asked him to step down.
“That he chose to run to the media with made up anecdotes and a series of falsehoods, confirms I made the correct decision.”
