The Guardian view on Kemi Badenoch v the Post Office: a symptom of chronic shallowness | Editorial

If the government had cared as much about Horizon victims as the business secretary claims, she would not be in a row about delayed compensation

There are few undisputed facts in the row between Kemi Badenoch, the business and trade secretary, and Henry Staunton, former chairman of the Post Office, over delayed compensation for post office operators. The central allegation is that the government wanted payment deferred so the cost would not have to be met this side of a general election.

In rejecting that assertion, Ms Badenoch impugned Mr Staunton’s motives and character. She told parliament on Monday that the charges were “baseless” and vengeful. The business secretary explained that her accuser was embittered after being sacked last month, adding also that he had been under investigation for bullying. Mr Staunton says he was unaware of any such investigation. He has countered with a memo, dating back to January 2023, summarising a conversation with a senior civil servant, in which he was told to avoid painful long-term financial decisions. It would be better, Mr Staunton’s note of the meeting records, if the government were allowed to “hobble” into an election with such issues unaddressed.

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