Post Office scandal stay – Ex-boss who mentioned he was instructed to sluggish funds grilled
A former Post Office boss who claimed he was ordered to decelerate funds to victims of the Horizon IT scandal will seem earlier than MPs right now.
Henry Staunton, who was final week locked in a bitter confrontation with Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, faces questions over the general public spat. And former postmaster Alan Bates, whose battle for justice impressed the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, can be set to offer proof.
In a packed day, present Post Office chief govt Nick Read – who it emerged mentioned the organisation stands by some Horizon convictions – may even give proof to the The Business and Trade Committee.
The Horizon IT scandal noticed greater than 700 subpostmasters handed legal convictions between 1999 and 2015 as Fujitsu’s defective Horizon system made it seem as if cash was lacking at their branches. Hundreds of subpostmasters are nonetheless awaiting compensation regardless of the Government asserting that those that have had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts.
What will present boss Nick Read be requested about?
We can in all probability count on MPs to have one thing to say concerning the present Post Office boss saying he sticks by some Horizon convictions.
Downing Street final week hit again on the Post Office after it mentioned it would not help appeals in over 350 circumstances. No10 mentioned it’s “undeterred” in its plan to lastly exonerate tons of of victims after a letter emerged from the Post Office chief doubling down on some convictions. A word despatched by chief govt Nick Read to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk mentioned the corporate “would be bound to oppose an appeal” in no less than 369 of the 700 circumstances it had prosecuted.
In a letter despatched in January Mr Read mentioned the disputed circumstances “involve convictions obtained by reliance on evidence unrelated to the Horizon computer system”. It was despatched after ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office sparked widespread outrage concerning the scandal, which noticed tons of convicted after cash went lacking due to the defective software program.
Henry Staunton’s bitter conflict with Kemi Badenoch
Henry Staunton final week mentioned Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch was improper to say he had made up tales about being instructed to delay paying cash to postmasters affected by the scandal. Ms Badenoch instructed MPs there was “no evidence whatsoever” of his story and mentioned it was “a blatant attempt to seek revenge” for dropping his job.
She additionally mentioned he was being seemed into over claims he bullied folks earlier than he was sacked, and that there have been worries about his “willingness to co-operate” with the investigation.
But a spokesperson for Mr Staunton mentioned Ms Badenoch had made an “astonishing series of claims” about what occurred.
Who is Henry Staunton and why is he rowing with the Government?
Henry Staunton, who will reply questions on Tuesday afternoon, stepped down from the Post Office amid ongoing tensions final month.
The former WH Smith govt has since been concerned in a deepening row with Ms Badenoch after he claimed he had been instructed to delay payouts to the subpostmasters affected. Ms Badenoch tolds MPs he had unfold “made-up anecdotes” following his dismissal.
However, ministers are underneath stress over allegations a senior civil servant instructed Mr Staunton to not give attention to “long-term issues” and to guard his organisation’s funds. Mr Staunton is alleged to have been instructed throughout a gathering with Sarah Munby, who was then everlasting secretary on the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), to “hobble” into the subsequent basic election, in line with notes reported by The Times newspaper.
Ms Badenoch then referred to the dispute final Thursday, tweeting: “It’s important that people have trust in all we’re doing to get them justice. It’s frustrating dealing with false allegations that break that trust, but we won’t be distracted.
“The legislation is anticipated to come back into impact by the tip of July and apply to convictions in England & Wales.”
