Rishi Sunak has declined to say whether or not he has confidence within the chief govt of the crisis-hit Post Office, Nick Read, following affirmation of an investigation into his conduct.
The problem was put to him at Prime Minister’s Questions within the Commons after information of the probe was explosively revealed on Tuesday by ex-chairman Henry Staunton in proof to a committee of MPs.
Mr Staunton divulged that it was the end result of an 80-page report by a former head of human sources on the Post Office, as he maintained a disagreement with the federal government and his former employer over occasions main as much as his personal dismissal.
In reply to the arrogance query over Mr Read, Mr Sunak replied: “It would clearly be inappropriate for me to touch upon an investigation earlier than it has been accomplished.
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“Our focus remains working closely with the Post Office to ensure it delivers justice for postmasters caught up in this historic scandal and that is why we will imminently bring forward legislation that we promised.”
On Tuesday, requested if the federal government and No 10 had confidence in Mr Read, a Downing Street spokeswoman stated: “Yes.”
The Post Office is in meltdown over the historic Horizon IT system scandal that noticed greater than 700 subpostmasters prosecuted by the Post Office and handed prison convictions between 1999 and 2015.
Faulty software program, designed by Japanese large Fujitsu, had made it look as if cash was lacking from their branches.
While all events concerned within the course of have publicly admitted that the main focus must be on securing monetary redress for the victims, progress has proved sluggish and turn into overshadowed this week by squabbling between key figures.
Mr Staunton, fired by enterprise secretary Kemi Badenoch in late January, had claimed this month that he had been advised by a senior civil servant to go sluggish in processing subpostmaster compensation claims within the run-up to the final election.
The civil servant concerned and the federal government have denied that was the case however he maintained that place underneath questions from the enterprise and commerce committee of MPs, saying he had been made the sufferer of a “smear campaign”.
Business minister Kevin Hollinrake advised MPs on Wednesday that he “strongly rejected” the allegations, and described Mr Staunton’s choice to disclose particulars of the investigation into Mr Read as “highly unprofessional”.
During an pressing query on the Post Office board and governance, Mr Hollinrake stated: “The fact that Nick Read is being investigated is evidence that no one is untouchable and the Post Office culture is changing.
“An investigation is in fact not proof that allegations are correct. While Nick Read has co-operated absolutely, Mr Staunton tried to dam investigations wanting into his conduct, it was this motion in addition to his try and bypass formal course of to nominate a brand new director to the board, which led the Secretary of State (Ms Badenoch) to lose confidence in Mr Staunton.”
Mr Staunton had additionally advised MPs on Tuesday that Mr Read had warned he was going to resign as a result of he was “unhappy with his pay”.
Mr Hollinrake stated within the Commons that, whereas in submit, Mr Staunton had urged ministers to double Mr Read’s pay to forestall him quitting.
“I think on two occasions Mr Staunton sought to lobby or did lobby for a pay increase for Mr Read”, he stated.
“He sought to double the overall package of Mr Read on those occasions.”
Source: information.sky.com”