MPs demand to see ex-Post Office chair’s note over Horizon payouts

Henry Staunton has accused government of wanting to stall compensation payments to victims until after election

MPs investigating the Horizon scandal are demanding to see a note that a former chair of the Post Office says he sent to record his claim that he was instructed to stall on payments to wrongfully convicted post office operators.

The use of powers by parliament’s business and trade committee to see the note comes amid pressure on the business secretary, Kemi Badenoch, to back up claims that the former Post Office chair Henry Staunton was under investigation for bullying when she sacked him.