Henry Staunton claims he is the sufferer of a ‘smear marketing campaign’

Ousted Post Office chairman Henry Staunton yesterday claimed that he was a sufferer of a ‘smear marketing campaign’ led by Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch after he was sacked over the Horizon IT Scandal. 

Mr Staunton, who was fired from his function in January, he had ‘spoken up on issues of real public concern’ and in return he claims his status was publicly attacked.

The Tory minister known as for him to go amid allegations of bullying and likewise claims that he had tried to bypass the recruitment course of for appointing a board member.

Addressing a Commons committee listening to over the misjustice, he as soon as once more dismissed accusations that he was mendacity or had been mistaken about being requested to stall compensation to the sub-postmasters affected. 

He had claimed he was informed this by the previous high civil servant on the Business division Sarah Munby in January final 12 months. She has disputed his model of occasions and Mr Read yesterday stated: ‘I do not imagine it is true.’

Former chairman Henry Staunton (pictured), sacked final month whereas himself beneath investigation

Mr Staunton claimed that he was a sufferer of a ‘smear marketing campaign’ led by Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch after he was sacked over the Horizon IT Scandal

Nick Read (pictured), the boss of the Post Office, is beneath inner investigation and has allegedly threatened to resign 4 instances after complaining his wage is simply too low, MPs have been informed

Throughout the listening to, Mr Staunton additionally made a collection of bombshell revelations about present chief government Nick Read, who was appointed in 2019 and is on a wage of £435,000.

He claimed the boss had allegedly threatened to resign 4 instances after complaining his wage is simply too low, MPs have been informed.

Mr Staunton made the disclosure as he stood by his account that authorities officers requested him to stall compensation funds to wronged sub-postmasters.

Shocked MPs stated the allegation took the already ‘unedifying’ fiasco engulfing the ‘dysfunctional’ Post Office ‘to new heights’. They additionally stated it was additional proof that sub-postmasters had been left ‘on the backside of the pile’ and forgotten about whereas high officers have been ‘at battle’.

Asked about allegations in opposition to himself of bullying and claims that he tried to close down an investigation, Mr Staunton informed MPs: ‘What there may be, truly, is Mr Read fell out along with his HR director and he or she produced a “speak up” doc which was 80 pages thick.

‘Within that was one paragraph about feedback that I allegedly made. So that is an investigation, not into me, that is an investigation made into Nick Read.

‘That one paragraph you would say was about politically incorrect feedback attributed to me which I strenuously deny.’

Mr Staunton, whose wage was £150,000, continued: ‘This doc was truly taking a horrible toll on Nick Read.

‘He stated, “I’m not being supported by the board, this is just bad news. I’m going to resign tomorrow, I’ve just had enough”.

Tory MP Jonathan Gullis (pictured) stated: ‘Sub-postmasters and postmistresses are going to suppose they’re backside of the pile when the 2 most senior folks within the organisation are at battle with their employer. This is beginning to seem like an entire and utter shambles’

Mr Staunton was sacked final month by Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch (pictured) amid not solely the allegations of bullying but in addition claims that he had tried to bypass the recruitment course of for appointing a board member

‘The report alleges, from the HR director, not my phrases, that Nick was going to resign as a result of he was sad with this pay.’

Mr Staunton added: ‘I will need to have had 4 conversations when he stated he was going to chuck it in.’

His model contrasted with feedback by Mr Read earlier on the listening to when, requested by MPs if he had ever tried to resign from the Post Office, he stated beneath oath: ‘No. Why do you ask?’

But MPs on the committee reacted with fury. Tory MP Jonathan Gullis stated: ‘Sub-postmasters and postmistresses are going to suppose they’re backside of the pile when the 2 most senior folks within the organisation are at battle with their employer. This is beginning to seem like an entire and utter shambles.’

Independent MP Andy McDonald stated: ‘Mr Staunton has lifted the lid on what we already knew was a dysfunctional organisation. But it has been taken to new heights.’

The committee additionally heard the harrowing accounts of wronged former sub-postmasters, together with Alan Bates, the campaigner who impressed the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office

Mr Bates (pictured) dismissed authorities officers’ insistence that the compensation course of is getting ‘quicker and fairer’, saying: ‘No it is not. It’s very disappointing’

The committee additionally heard the harrowing accounts of wronged former sub-postmasters, together with Alan Bates, the campaigner who impressed the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. 

He dismissed authorities officers’ insistence that the compensation course of is getting ‘quicker and fairer’, saying: ‘No it is not. It’s very disappointing.’

A supply near Mrs Badenoch stated: ‘Staunton has been nothing however a distraction. Now he tries to deflect the main target onto Nick Read.’

A Post Office spokesman stated it has acquired complaints in opposition to ‘quite a lot of folks throughout the organisation – Nick is a kind of staff. I’m certain you’ll agree Post Office ought to examine each criticism.’

The official added: ‘Nick has co-operated absolutely.’

It was unclear final evening what Mr Read is being investigated for.