Ex-Post Office chairman defended reputation during sacking by Kemi Badenoch

Former Post Office president Henry Staunton defended his “successful” 50-year vocation arsenic helium was sacked by past concern caput Kemi Badenoch successful a telephone call, a signaling has revealed.

The signaling from January heard Ms Badenoch admit the fallout from ITV play Mr Bates vs The Post Office had been “traumatic” for the organisation.

Mr Staunton besides said the 4 weeks aft the play had been “horrific”.

I cognize that the events of the past 4 weeks indispensable person been peculiarly hard - not conscionable for you but for the full organisation... I volition spell arsenic acold to accidental traumatic

Kemi Badenoch successful a telephone to Henry Staunton

The signaling was played to the Horizon IT enquiry connected Tuesday, wherever helium was heard to say: “I’ve chaired immoderate companies, a batch of companies, precise successfully – but this one’s a spot of a nightmare.”

The proceeding besides heard Mr Staunton, speaking to Ms Badenoch, picture main enforcement Nick Read arsenic “unstable” arsenic Mr Read listened from the nationalist gallery.

In his witnesser connection to the inquiry, Mr Staunton denied utilizing racist oregon misogynist comments successful a meeting, claiming colleagues had said “there was not an ounce of racism successful me”.

He added that helium was “deeply stung” by allegations of inappropriate comments aft a gathering astir candidates to beryllium seat of the Post Office’s Remuneration Committee.

Ms Badenoch told Mr Staunton successful the telephone that she had received complaints astir him which were “serious capable for america to intervene successful this way”.

She publically said she was forced to intervene implicit “difficulties” with Post Office governance, starring to a nationalist enactment betwixt the pair.

Kemi Badenoch said Mr Staunton was the taxable of bullying allegations earlier his dismissal (Yui Mok/PA)

Ms Badenoch proceeded to accidental the erstwhile president was being investigated implicit bullying allegations earlier his dismissal.

In his telephone with Ms Badenoch, Mr Staunton said: “We indispensable marque this organisation much postmaster-centric.

“It’s conscionable been horrific, the past 4 weeks (since the drama).

“We request to get connected the beforehand ft and I deliberation that (being) postmaster-centric does that for you.”

Ms Badenoch replied: “There is truthful overmuch that needs to beryllium done and I’m precise atrocious that your tenure with the organisation has ended up this way.

“I cognize that the events of the past 4 weeks indispensable person been peculiarly hard – not conscionable for you but for the full organisation… I volition spell arsenic acold to accidental traumatic.

While I was not fixed reasons for my termination, it seems apt that my willingness to contradict the Post Office orthodoxy connected the attraction of postmasters meant my paper was marked

Henry Staunton

“But the complaints we person received are superior enough, I’m afraid, Henry, they are superior capable for america to person to intervene successful this way.”

Mr Staunton said helium had a “reputation built up implicit 50 years” and it was “very important” to him.

He added: “There volition beryllium capable crises successful the Post Office successful the adjacent 2 weeks and this volition beryllium conscionable a tiny point successful a footnote successful owed course.”

Mr Staunton told the enquiry his “willingness to contradict the Post Office” connected the attraction of postmasters “meant my paper was marked”.

In his witnesser statement, helium said helium was a “champion of diversity”, and colleagues had raised concerns with him astir however the probe into his comments was “contrived, unfair and bizarre”.

Mr Staunton took the Post Office relation successful December 2022 aft 9 years arsenic president of WHSmith.

He said helium attended an interrogation with barrister Marianne Tutin who conducted an probe into a ailment made by erstwhile Post Office HR manager Jane Davies successful precocious January.

Mr Staunton besides said helium was “shocked” astatine Ms Badenoch’s words successful the House of Commons erstwhile she said helium was being investigated for bullying, describing her comments arsenic “baseless”.

Asked if the civilization wrong the Post Office encouraged whistleblowers to talk openly astir their concerns, Mr Staunton said: “Based connected my ain acquisition I bash not deliberation the civilization has encouraged radical to beryllium capable to talk up safely and without repercussions.

“While I was not fixed reasons for my termination, it seems apt that my willingness to contradict the Post Office orthodoxy connected the attraction of postmasters meant my paper was marked.

“I subsequently suffered the nationalist trashing of my reputation.”

More than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted betwixt 1999 and 2015 aft faulty Horizon accounting bundle made it look arsenic though wealth was missing from their shops.

Hundreds are inactive awaiting compensation contempt the erstwhile authorities announcing that those who person had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts.