Chairman of Post Office terminated following Horizon Scandal repercussions
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch requested the resignation of Mr. Staunton due to governance issues at the Post Office.
Henry Staunton has resigned as the chairman of the Post Office following the Horizon IT scandal.
Badenoch mentioned that she had to fire Mr. Staunton over issues regarding the governance of the Post Office. She stated that the state-owned business has problems extending beyond the Horizon scandal. But, she declined to comment on whether other board members would be asked to leave, saying she’s not doing “HR on live TV.”
Badenoch also dismissed suggestions that she should resign.
Mr. Staunton just assumed the position in December 2022, after serving nine years as chairman of WH Smith.
The government confirmed his resignation on Saturday, noting that it was a mutual decision between Badenoch and Mr. Staunton.
“An interim will be appointed shortly and a recruitment process for a new chair will be launched in due course, in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments,” a government spokesperson stated.
When asked whether she had fired Mr. Staunton, Ms. Badenoch said, “Yes, we had a conversation and we agreed that it was better that the Post Office had new leadership going forward.”
She mentioned that the issues at the Post Office extend beyond the Horizon scandal and the ongoing inquiry. She expressed the need for a different person to handle the Post Office’s issues.
Questioned about the Horizon IT scandal, Badenoch stated that she “certainly” expects Fujitsu to pay compensation for the faulty accounting software.
The minister declined to comment on other potential changes within the Post Office.
Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds urged the government to clarify the decision, which he called “quite unusual.” He emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the scandal and provide compensation to subpostmasters.
PA Media contributed to this report.
