Henry Stanton has resigned amid ongoing tensions with the government in the wake of the Horizon IT scandal.
Sunday 28 January 2024 02:52, UK
The business minister said he had “felt a need for new leadership” at the Post Office after it was announced that the Post Office chairman would be ousted from his post.
Henry Stanton is got off As tensions with the government continue, The aftermath of the Horizon IT scandal.
The Department of Commerce and Trade said an interim staff member would be appointed “shortly.”
business secretary Kemi Badenoch “The Post Office is rightly under increased scrutiny right now.
“With that in mind, we feel that new leadership is needed and we have decided to part ways by mutual consent.”
Mr Stanton's resignation follows Whitehall complaints about the company's governance, including a dispute over future appointments. Appointment of new senior independent directorSky News reported on Saturday.
Sources told Sky News that his resignation was not directly related to the Horizon scandal itself, but that there had been disagreements between him and the government over the best candidate for the job.
Stanton was tasked with leading the board of directors at a time when management was in turmoil in the aftermath of what was said to be Britain's biggest miscarriage of justice.
From 1999 to 2015, more than 700 branch managers were indicted by the Postal Service after flaws in Horizon accounting software caused stores to appear as if money was missing.
Hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmasters are still waiting for compensation, despite the government announcing that those whose convictions have been quashed will be eligible for a payment of £600,000.
read more:
Fujitsu president admits staff knew about Horizon bug
Former subpostmaster 'overwhelmed' as conviction overturned
Former subpostmaster's innocence confirmed
Asking senior executives to make “significant changes”
Labor MP Kevan Jones told Sky News the government needed to explain why it sacked Mr Stanton, adding: “I also argue that significant change is needed in senior management at the Post Office.” Ta.
“Remember the senior executive who under his watch received bonuses for co-operating with the public inquiry, even though the public inquiry is still trying to extract information from the Post Office.So no, more Change has to happen.”
Mr Jones also said there would be “serious question marks” over the position of Post Office Director Nick Reid.
Conservative colleague Lord Arbuthnot has ruled himself out as a candidate to replace Mr Staunton as he seeks justice for the Deputy Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General.
“We need a dramatic change in culture and governance, and that can only be brought about by those with experience of doing such things,” he told The Independent.
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch will be appearing with Trevor Phillips this Sunday morning at 8.30am.
