The former chairman of the Post Office was told in “black and white” to “prioritise” the payment of compensation to Horizon scandal victims, the Education Secretary said.

Gillian Keegan said there is a “written record” of the instructions given to Henry Staunton after she was asked about a row that erupted between him and Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary. 

Mrs Badenoch has accused Mr Staunton of lying after he claimed in an interview that he had been told by a senior government official to slow down the payment of compensation for sub-postmasters to allow the Tories to “limp into” the next election.

Mrs Badenoch, who sacked him as chairman last month, said his comments were “full of lies” and accused him of failing to get justice for postmasters.

Mrs Keegan told Times Radio: “There is a written record of what Henry Staunton was asked to do upon his appointment and it very much prioritised the sub-postmasters and making sure that they get compensated as quickly as possible. 

“That is my understanding. That was there very clearly in black and white so obviously they disagree but he was dismissed from his role so sometimes recollections may vary.” 

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