Editing Controversies regarding COVID-19 contracts in the United Kingdom

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{TopicTOC-Covid19UK}}
In response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]], the [[British government]] decided in March 2020 to rapidly place contracts and recruit a number of individuals. Shortages of [[personal protective equipment]] (PPE) were a particular political issue for the [[second Johnson ministry]]. This led to the awarding of a number of contracts without a [[competitive tendering]] process, and friends of political figures and people who had made political donations were quickly given contracts. As a result, accusations of [[cronyism]] were made against the government.

== Shortages of PPE and equipment ==
{{see also|Shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic}}

Since the [[Global spread of H5N1 in 2007|2007 H5N1 influenza outbreak]],  [[National Health Service]] (NHS) trusts had conducted simulations of [[Influenza pandemic|influenza-like pandemics]]. Russell King, an NHS resilience manager, said; "the [[Cabinet Office]] had identified the availability and distribution of PPE [personal protective equipment] as a pinch point in a pandemic".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lay |first1=Kat |last2=Fisher |first2=Lucy |title=Coronavirus: Shortage of masks and gowns for NHS staff foreseen over a decade ago |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-shortage-of-masks-and-gowns-for-nhs-staff-foreseen-over-a-decade-ago-8v8fcb0z3 |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=[[The Times]] |date=31 March 2020 |language=en |archive-date=10 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210042013/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-shortage-of-masks-and-gowns-for-nhs-staff-foreseen-over-a-decade-ago-8v8fcb0z3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:A doctor wearing personal protective equipment for treating patients with COVID-19.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|left|A doctor wearing [[Personal protective equipment|PPE]] to prevent exposure to COVID-19]]

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the government was criticised for the lack of PPE available to NHS workers, and there was pressure to quickly supply PPE to the NHS.<ref name="Kemp"/> The UK claims it did not take part in an 8 April bid for €1.5bn (£1.3bn) worth of PPE by members of the [[European Union]] (EU), or any bids under the EU Joint Procurement Agreement, which was set up in 2014 after the [[Pandemic H1N1/09 virus|H1N1 influenza pandemic]]<ref name="Boffey"/> because the UK had [[Brexit|left the EU]].<ref name="Financial Times">{{cite news |last1=Brundsen |first1=Jim |last2=Foster |first2=Peter |last3=Parker |first3=George |last4=Hughes |first4=Laura |title=Brussels says UK was fully aware of PPE procurement plans |url=https://www.ft.com/content/58f5f476-7a85-4785-81bd-0806ff7c6ded |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[Financial Times]] |date=22 April 2020 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130062440/https://www.ft.com/content/58f5f476-7a85-4785-81bd-0806ff7c6ded |url-status=live }}</ref> The agreement allows EU countries to purchase as a bloc, securing the best prices and allowing quick procurement at a time of shortages. Under the terms of the [[Brexit withdrawal agreement]], the UK government had the right to take part in the bid until 31 December 2020.<ref name="Boffey">{{cite news |last1=Boffey |first1=Daniel |title=What is the EU medical equipment scheme and why did UK opt out? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/coronavirus-what-is-eu-medical-equipment-scheme-why-did-uk-opt-out |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=22 April 2020 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114114034/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/coronavirus-what-is-eu-medical-equipment-scheme-why-did-uk-opt-out |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2020, the government called for British industry to manufacture [[ventilator|medical ventilators]] for the NHS. [[Dyson (company)|Dyson]] and [[Babcock International|Babcock]] revealed plans to manufacture 30,000 ventilators, a number seen as necessary based on modelling from China. The "ventilator challenge" involved companies such as [[Airbus]], [[Rolls-Royce]] and [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Rob|date=26 March 2020|title=How the UK plans to source 30,000 ventilators for the NHS|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/26/how-the-uk-plans-to-source-30000-ventilators-for-nhs-coronavirus|access-date=5 December 2020|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107123907/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/26/how-the-uk-plans-to-source-30000-ventilators-for-nhs-coronavirus|url-status=live}}</ref> Company sources later told ''[[The Guardian]]'' this was known to be impractical at the time; the ventilators suggested by the government were crude and would not have been able to be used in hospitals. None of the companies involved reached the final stages of testing and most were, in hindsight, superfluous.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Rob|date=4 May 2020|title=The inside story of the UK's NHS coronavirus ventilator challenge|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/04/the-inside-story-of-the-uks-nhs-coronavirus-ventilator-challenge|access-date=5 December 2020|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126174928/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/04/the-inside-story-of-the-uks-nhs-coronavirus-ventilator-challenge|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[The Doctors' Association UK]] said on 31 March 2020 shortages were covered up with intimidating emails, threats of disciplinary action and, in two cases, doctors being sent home from work. Some doctors were disciplined after managers were annoyed by material they had posted online about the shortages.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Denis |title=NHS staff 'gagged' over coronavirus shortages |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/31/nhs-staff-gagged-over-coronavirus-protective-equipment-shortages |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=31 March 2020 |archive-date=8 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208051446/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/31/nhs-staff-gagged-over-coronavirus-protective-equipment-shortages |url-status=live }}</ref> Speaking to [[Nafeez Ahmed]] in April, former [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) employee [[Anthony Costello]] said; "We simply don't have enough PPE. Not enough visors, not enough N95 respirators. [The] government is not following WHO guidelines."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Nafeez |title=The Coronavirus Crisis: Eight Week Suppression Strategy Could Stop COVID-19 in its Tracks, says Ex-WHO Director |url=https://bylinetimes.com/2020/04/01/the-coronavirus-crisis-eight-week-suppression-strategy-could-stop-covid-19-in-its-tracks-says-ex-who-director/ |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=Byline Times |date=1 April 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028204944/https://bylinetimes.com/2020/04/01/the-coronavirus-crisis-eight-week-suppression-strategy-could-stop-covid-19-in-its-tracks-says-ex-who-director/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 18 April, [[Robert Jenrick]] reported 400,000 protective gowns and other PPE were on their way to the UK from Turkey.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jenrick: 84 tonnes of PPE to arrive from Turkey |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-52340461 |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=BBC News |date=18 April 2020 |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127141008/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-52340461 |url-status=live }}</ref> One day later, they were delayed, leading hospital leaders to criticise the government for the first time since the pandemic began.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Denis |title=Hospital leaders hit out at government as PPE shortage row escalates |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/19/hospital-leaders-hit-out-government-ppe-shortage-row-escalates-nhs |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=11 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211075125/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/19/hospital-leaders-hit-out-government-ppe-shortage-row-escalates-nhs |url-status=live }}</ref> The shipment arrived at Istanbul airport ''en route'' to the UK two days after ministers said the PPE would reach the UK.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sabbagh |first1=Dan |title=Turkish PPE finally arrives at Istanbul airport en route to UK |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/21/turkish-ppe-flight-only-slim-chance-goods-will-arrive-in-uk-today |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=21 April 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115090644/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/21/turkish-ppe-flight-only-slim-chance-goods-will-arrive-in-uk-today |url-status=live }}</ref> Only 32,000 gowns arrived—less than one-tenth of the order—despite the NHS making a [[down payment]] to secure their arrival on 22 April.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sabbagh |first1=Dan |title='Less than 10th' of PPE order arrives in UK, despite downpayment |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/23/less-than-10th-of-ppe-order-arrives-in-uk-despite-downpayment |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=23 April 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115171406/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/23/less-than-10th-of-ppe-order-arrives-in-uk-despite-downpayment |url-status=live }}</ref> The PPE shipment was ultimately returned to Turkey because it did not meet NHS standards.<ref name="Rawlinson">{{cite news |last1=Rawlinson |first1=Kevin |title=Coronavirus PPE: all 400,000 gowns flown from Turkey for NHS fail UK standards |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/all-400000-gowns-flown-from-turkey-for-nhs-fail-uk-standards |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=7 May 2020 |archive-date=10 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210072833/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/all-400000-gowns-flown-from-turkey-for-nhs-fail-uk-standards |url-status=live }}</ref> In May, it was learnt almost half of England's doctors sourced their own PPE or relied on donations when none was available through normal NHS channels.<ref name="Rawlinson"/>

== Bypassing the open call for bids ==

According to ''[[Byline Times]]'', the UK usually publishes an [[open call for bids]] to provide PPE in the ''[[Official Journal of the European Union]]''. The newspaper said according to EU directives, the government does not have to open up a contract to competition when there is an "extreme urgency" to buy goods or services, and can directly approach companies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the [[Department of Health and Social Care]] (DHSC), local NHS bodies and other government agencies directly approached firms to provide services, bypassing the EU's tendering process—in some cases without a "call for competition".<ref name="Komarnyckyj">{{cite news |last1=Komarnyckyj |first1=Stephen |title=Another Strange Contract: The Loophole Allowing the Government to Avoid PPE Procurement Rules |url=https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/09/another-strange-contract-the-loophole-allowing-the-government-to-avoid-ppe-procurement-rules/ |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=Byline Times |date=9 July 2020 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121134757/https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/09/another-strange-contract-the-loophole-allowing-the-government-to-avoid-ppe-procurement-rules/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''Byline Times'', emergency procurement procedures under regulation 32(2)(c) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015, which allows for the sourcing of goods without a formal tendering process, were invoked.<ref name="Delahunty1">{{cite news |last1=Delahunty |first1=Stephen |title=Lifestyle Company with No Employees or Trading History Handed £25 Million PPE Contract |url=https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/02/lifestyle-company-with-no-employees-or-trading-history-handed-25-million-ppe-contract/ |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=Byline Times |date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101025304/https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/02/lifestyle-company-with-no-employees-or-trading-history-handed-25-million-ppe-contract/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 19 February 2021, the [[High Court of Justice]] ruled the government had violated the law by not publishing contract awards within 30 days.<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacAskill |first1=Andrew |title=UK government broke the law by failing to disclose PPE contracts, court rules |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-procuremen/uk-government-broke-the-law-by-failing-to-disclose-ppe-contracts-court-rules-idUSKBN2AJ1IA |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=19 February 2021 |location=London |archive-date=19 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219203837/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-procuremen/uk-government-broke-the-law-by-failing-to-disclose-ppe-contracts-court-rules-idUSKBN2AJ1IA |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== {{anchor|Tendering process concerns}}Tendering-process concerns ===

The [[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)|National Audit Office]] (NAO) said £10.5&nbsp;billion of the overall £18&nbsp;billion spent on pandemic-related contracts (58 per cent) was awarded directly to suppliers without competitive tender, with PPE accounting for 80&nbsp;per cent of the contracts.<ref name="bbc18nov20">{{cite news |title=Covid spending: Watchdog finds MPs' contacts were given priority |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54978460 |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=18 November 2020 |archive-date=18 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118003045/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54978460 |url-status=live }}</ref> The UK government was competing with governments worldwide and, to satisfy the unprecedented demand for PPE, had awarded contracts hastily and bypassed normal competitive tendering processes to secure supplies.<ref name="bbc18nov20" /> As a result of the NAO report, the [[Good Law Project]] advocacy group opened a number of cases against the DHSC. The Good Law Project questioned the awarding of PPE contracts worth over £250&nbsp;million to Michael Saiger, who headed an American jewellery company and had no experience in supplying PPE;<ref name="Adams">{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Tim |title='I don't like acts of dishonesty by the state': Jolyon Maugham QC on Covid cronyism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/nov/22/jolyon-maugham-qc-covid-cronyism-good-law-project |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[The Observer]] |date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122080208/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/nov/22/jolyon-maugham-qc-covid-cronyism-good-law-project |url-status=live }}</ref> the contracts involved a £21&nbsp;million payment to [[intermediary]] Gabriel González Andersson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Go-between paid £21m in taxpayer funds for NHS PPE |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54974373 |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=17 November 2020 |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122153526/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54974373 |url-status=live }}</ref> The contract was not advertised and there was no competitive tender process.<ref name="Adams"/>

[[Transparency International UK]] found one-fifth of the contracts "raised red flags for possible corruption".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=22 April 2021|title=Fifth of UK Covid contracts 'raised red flags for possible corruption'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/22/fifth-of-uk-covid-contracts-raised-red-flags-for-possible-corruption|access-date=22 April 2021|website=The Guardian|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422063556/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/22/fifth-of-uk-covid-contracts-raised-red-flags-for-possible-corruption|url-status=live}}</ref> A fast-track "VIP lane", which awarded funding at a rate 10 times higher than other routes, prioritised [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] donors and others connected with the party.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|date=20 February 2021|title=UK government under growing pressure over Covid procurement|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/20/uk-government-under-growing-pressure-over-covid-procurement|access-date=22 April 2021|work=The Guardian|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423042706/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/20/uk-government-under-growing-pressure-over-covid-procurement|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a leaked document from the Good Law Project on 16 November 2021 that was published before its planned official release by the government, 47 companies were referred to this route. [[Michael Gove]] referred Meller Designs, which received £164m in PPE contracts,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Conn |first1=David |last2=Mason |first2=Rowena |last3=Evans |first3=Rob |last4=Smith |first4=Joseph |access-date=18 November 2021 |title=Michael Gove backer won £164m in PPE contracts after 'VIP lane' referral |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/16/michael-gove-backer-won-164m-in-ppe-contracts-after-vip-lane-referral |work=The Guardian |date=16 November 2021}}</ref> and Liaoning Zhongqiao Overseas Exchange Co, which received a $15m contract for PPE, to this route. A spokesperson for Gove said the referral was not improper. [[Matt Hancock]] referred Excalibur Healthcare, which received contracts worth £135.4m; Nine United, which received a contract worth £80.7m; and Monarch Acoustics, which received a contract worth £28.8m. [[Andrew Feldman, Baron Feldman of Elstree|Lord Feldman]] referred SG Recruitment which received £79.6m of contracts; Skinnydip Ltd, which received a contract worth £12.8m; and Maxima Markets, which received a contract worth £1.85m. Feldman told ''[[The Guardian]]'' he had no previous knowledge of the companies or commercial relationship with their owners, and that the companies were referred to him by third parties, and he had no knowledge they became fast-tracked. [[Theodore Agnew, Baron Agnew of Oulton|Lord Agnew]] referred Uniserve–one of the largest recipients of non-open tender pandemic agreements that received eight contracts worth £876m; Worldlink Resource, which received £258m of contracts; and Euthenia Investments, which received a contract worth £880,000). The Cabinet Office said Agnew had been referring companies that approached his office. Uniserve said the DHSC had approached it directly and that it had no connections with Agnew. [[Michelle Mone]] is listed as referring PPE Medpro, which received two contracts worth £202.8m;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Rob |last2=Mason |first2=Rowena |last3=Conn |first3=David |last4=Goodley |first4=Simon |access-date=18 November 2021 |title=Five Tory MPs and peers who referred firms to controversial VIP lane |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/16/five-tory-mps-peers-referred-firms-controversial-vip-lane-covid |work=The Guardian |date=16 November 2021}}</ref> in 2020, Mone's lawyers had told ''[[The Guardian]]'' she did not have "any role or function in PPE Medpro, nor in the process by which contracts were awarded to PPE Medpro".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Conn |first1=David |last2=Scott |first2=Russell |last3=Pegg |first3=David |access-date=18 November 2021 |title=Firm with mystery investors wins £200m of PPE contracts via 'high-priority lane' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/21/firm-with-mystery-investors-wins-200m-of-ppe-contracts-via-high-priority-lane |work=The Guardian |date=21 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

According to ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', the government gave £1.5 billion to companies that are linked to the Conservative Party.<ref name="PogCal">{{cite news |last1=Pogrund |first1=Gabriel |last2=Calver |first2=Tom |title=Chumocracy first in line as ministers splash Covid cash |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/chumocracy-first-in-line-as-ministers-splash-covid-cash-7wb5b8q0w |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115051647/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/chumocracy-first-in-line-as-ministers-splash-covid-cash-7wb5b8q0w |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the NAO said there was "no evidence" ministers were "involved in either the award or management of the contracts",<ref name="bbc18nov20"/> companies that had links to government ministers, politicians and health officials were put in a high-priority channel<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keslo |first1=Paul |title=COVID-19: 'High priority' procurement for firms recommended by MPs and advisers |url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-high-priority-procurement-for-firms-recommended-by-mps-and-advisers-12135051 |access-date=27 November 2020 |work=Sky News |date=18 November 2020 |archive-date=25 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125023506/https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-high-priority-procurement-for-firms-recommended-by-mps-and-advisers-12135051 |url-status=live }}</ref> that was fast-tracked; those in it were ten times more likely to win a contract.<ref name="bbc18nov20"/> In an opinion piece, BBC economics correspondent [[Andrew Verity]] said there was an increased risk contracts would be seen to be "awarded not on merit or value for money but because of personal connections" when fast-tracking occurs.<ref name="bbc18nov20"/>

=== Alleged cronyism ===
[[File:Dido Harding 2013.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|left|[[Dido Harding|The Baroness Harding]], a Tory peer, was appointed to run [[NHS Test and Trace]], leading to accusations of cronyism]]

[[Dido Harding|The Baroness Harding]], a Conservative peer and the wife of Conservative MP [[John Penrose]], was appointed to run [[NHS Test and Trace]],<ref name="PogCal"/> until the establishment of the [[UK Health Security Agency]] in April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 March 2021|title=New UK Health Security Agency to lead response to future health threats|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-uk-health-security-agency-to-lead-response-to-future-health-threats|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-02|website=GOV.UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324121716/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-uk-health-security-agency-to-lead-response-to-future-health-threats |archive-date=2021-03-24 }}</ref> Harding's appointment was also seen as controversial due to her involvement in organising the [[Cheltenham Festival]], an annual horse-racing event in early March whose 2020 edition was alleged to be a possible early [[superspreading event]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-20|title='If you wanted to design a virus dispersion hub, you could do worse': the Cheltenham Festival, one year on|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/20/virus-dispersion-hub-packed-racecourse-cheltenham-festival|access-date=2022-01-13|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In October 2020, [[Mike Coupe]], a friend of Harding,<ref name="Guard21nov"/> took a three-month appointment as head of infection testing at NHS Test and Trace.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Serle|first=Jack|date=29 September 2020|title=Ex-Sainsbury's boss to join beleaguered Test and Trace as NHS chief returns to trust|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/coronavirus/exclusive-ex-sainsburys-boss-to-join-beleaguered-test-and-trace-as-nhs-chief-returns-to-trust/7028539.article|access-date=30 September 2020|website=Health Service Journal|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001161338/https://www.hsj.co.uk/coronavirus/exclusive-ex-sainsburys-boss-to-join-beleaguered-test-and-trace-as-nhs-chief-returns-to-trust/7028539.article|url-status=live}}</ref> The Good Law Project and the [[Runnymede Trust]] brought a legal case that alleged Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] acted unlawfully in securing the two contracts, and had chosen the recipients because of their connections to the Conservative Party;<ref name="Guard21nov">{{cite news |title=Boris Johnson 'acted illegally' over jobs for top anti-Covid staff |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/21/boris-johnson-acted-illegally-over-jobs-for-top-anti-covid-staff |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 November 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713003355/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/21/boris-johnson-acted-illegally-over-jobs-for-top-anti-covid-staff |url-status=live }}</ref> {{as of|June 2021}}, the case was still ongoing, although previous action over [[Kate Bingham]]'s non-competitive appointment as head of the [[Vaccine Taskforce|vaccine taskforce]] was dropped.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Conn |first1=David |title=Legal action over Kate Bingham's role in UK Covid vaccine taskforce dropped |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/23/legal-action-over-kate-bingham-role-in-uk-covid-vaccine-taskforce-dropped |work=The Guardian |date=23 June 2021}}</ref> A spokesman for the government told ''The Guardian''; "We do not comment on ongoing legal proceedings."<ref name="Guard21nov"/>

The DHSC appointed [[George Pascoe-Watson]], chair of [[Portland Communications]], to an unpaid advisory position and he participated in daily strategic discussions that were chaired by [[James Bethell, 5th Baron Bethell|Lord Bethell]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pogrund |first1=Gabriel |title=George Pascoe-Watson among lobbyists given secret access to Covid meetings |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/george-pascoe-watson-among-lobbyists-given-secret-access-to-covid-meetings-tzxkc0jkp |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115001023/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/george-pascoe-watson-among-lobbyists-given-secret-access-to-covid-meetings-tzxkc0jkp |url-status=live }}</ref> Pascoe-Watson sent information about government policy to his clients before it was made public.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stone |first1=Jon |title=Government gave lobbyists access to confidential coronavirus briefings |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-lobbyists-coronavirus-george-pascoe-watson-b1723246.html |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115151527/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-lobbyists-coronavirus-george-pascoe-watson-b1723246.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Diver |first1=Tony |title=National lockdown was revealed by lobbyists before press leaks |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/11/15/national-lockdown-revealed-lobbyists-press-leaks/ |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Sunday Telegraph]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115235009/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/11/15/national-lockdown-revealed-lobbyists-press-leaks/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Conservative peer [[James O'Shaughnessy, Baron O'Shaughnessy|Lord O'Shaughnessy]] was paid as an "external adviser" to the DHSC when he was a paid adviser to Portland Communications. In May 2020, O'Shaughnessy participated in a call with Bethell and [[Boston Consulting Group]] (BCG), a Portland client that received £21&nbsp;million in contracts on the [[COVID-19 testing]] system.<ref name="PogCal"/> BCG management consultants were paid up to £6,250 per day to help reorganise the Test and Trace system.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jolly |first1=Jasper |last2=Syal |first2=Rajeev |title=Consultants' fees 'up to £6,250 a day' for work on Covid test system |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/14/consultants-fees-up-to-6250-a-day-for-work-on-covid-test-system |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=14 October 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115155946/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/14/consultants-fees-up-to-6250-a-day-for-work-on-covid-test-system |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Randox COVID-19 PCR home test kit.jpg|thumb|right|A Randox PCR home test kit in the UK, showing the swab, and multi-layer packaging to deliver it to the lab]]
Other allegations of cronyism include:
*[[Faculty (company)|Faculty]], which worked with [[Dominic Cummings]] for [[Vote Leave]] during the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|Brexit referendum]], has received government contracts since 2018. After Boris Johnson became prime minister, Cummings recruited [[Ben Warner]], a former Faculty employee who worked on Vote Leave, to work with him in [[Downing Street]].<ref name="GuardChums">{{cite news |last1=Conn |first1=David |last2=Pegg |first2=David |last3=Evans |first3=Rob |last4=Garside |first4=Juliette |last5=Lawrence |first5=Felicity |title='Chumocracy': how Covid revealed the new shape of the Tory establishment |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/15/chumocracy-covid-revealed-shape-tory-establishment |access-date=15 November 2020 |work=[[The Observer]] |date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115124803/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/15/chumocracy-covid-revealed-shape-tory-establishment |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Hanbury Strategy, a policy and lobbying consultancy, was paid £648,000 for two contracts: one that was awarded under the emergency procedures to research "public attitudes and behaviours" in relation to the pandemic, and one, at a level not requiring a tender, to conduct weekly polling. The company was co-founded by Paul Stephenson, director of communications for Vote Leave and a contender for the post [[Downing Street Chief of Staff]]. In March 2019, Hanbury was tasked with assessing job applications for Conservative special advisers.<ref name="GuardChums" />
*[[Gina Coladangelo]], a close friend of [[Matt Hancock]] with no-known health background, was paid £15,000 as a non-executive director of the DHSC on a six-month contract; Coladangelo accompanied Hancock to confidential meetings with civil servants although there was no public record of the appointment. She received a parliamentary pass sponsored by Bethell, although she is not part of Bethell's team.<ref name="PogrundNov22">{{cite news|last1=Pogrund|first1=Gabriel|date=22 November 2020|title=Matt Hancock gave key Covid role to lobbyist pal|language=en|work=The Sunday Times|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/matt-hancock-gave-key-covid-role-to-lobbyist-pal-tppg75t5c|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122073808/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/matt-hancock-gave-key-covid-role-to-lobbyist-pal-tppg75t5c|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Coladangelo resigned from her position after it was revealed she and Hancock were having an [[extramarital affair]].<ref>{{cite news |last=McCann |first=Jaymi |title=Gina Coladangelo quits Department of Health with Matt Hancock, as her role faces increased scrutiny |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/gina-coladangelo-quits-department-health-matt-hancock-role-increased-scrutiny-1073666 |work=inews.co.uk |date=2021-06-27 |access-date=2021-06-27 |archive-date=2021-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627123132/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/gina-coladangelo-quits-department-health-matt-hancock-role-increased-scrutiny-1073666 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*According to ''[[The Guardian]]'', Alex Bourne, a former neighbour and owner of the Cock Inn public house, which is near Hancock's constituency home, received a contract that involved supplying "tens of millions of vials for NHS Covid-19 tests".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lawrence|first1=Felicity|date=26 November 2020|title=Hancock's former neighbour won Covid test kit work after WhatsApp message|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/26/matt-hancock-former-neighbour-won-covid-test-kit-contract-after-whatsapp-message|access-date=26 November 2020|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126060816/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/26/matt-hancock-former-neighbour-won-covid-test-kit-contract-after-whatsapp-message|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== PPE and equipment contracts ===
In April 2020, Ayanda Capital, a [[Mauritius]]-based investment firm with no prior public-health experience, received a £252&nbsp;million contract to supply face masks. The contract included an order for 50 million high-strength [[FFP standards#FFP2 mask|FFP2 medical masks]] that did not meet NHS standards because they had elastic ear loops instead of the required straps that tie behind the wearer's head.<ref name="Adams" /> According to the company, they adhered to the specifications they were given.<ref name="Adams" /> Andrew Mills, an adviser to the [[Board of Trade]]–a branch of [[Liz Truss]]'s [[Department for International Trade]]–whose involvement was criticised by the Good Law Project, arranged the contract.<ref name="GuardChums" /> According to the DIT, neither it nor the Board of Trade was involved in the deal.<ref name="GuardChums" />

[[File:Randox COVID-19 PCR drop-off location.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.75|A Randox sample drop box]]

Former [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]] [[Andrew Feldman, Baron Feldman of Elstree|Lord Feldman]] was appointed as an unpaid adviser to Conservative peer [[James Bethell, 5th Baron Bethell|Lord Bethell]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Geoghehan|first1=Peter|last2=Scott|first2=Russell|date=13 November 2020|title=Revealed: Former Tory chairman was secretly appointed as COVID advisor|work=[[openDemocracy]]|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/revealed-former-tory-chairman-was-secretly-appointed-covid-advisor/|access-date=15 November 2020|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114080346/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/revealed-former-tory-chairman-was-secretly-appointed-covid-advisor/|url-status=live}}</ref> Feldman was present when Bethell awarded Meller Designs, which is owned by [[David Meller]], who gave £63,000 to the Conservative Party–mostly when Feldman was chair–£163&nbsp;million in contracts for PPE on 6 April.<ref name="PogCal" /> Three days later, Conservative MP and former [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]] [[Owen Paterson]] participated in a telephone call with Bethell and [[Randox Laboratories]], who pay Paterson £100,000 a year as a consultant. The [[Grand National]], the biggest sporting event of the [[Jockey Club]], whose executive board Harding and Paterson's late wife [[Rose Paterson|Rose]] sat on, is sponsored by Randox, who received £479&nbsp;million in testing contracts. Orders continued after Randox had to recall 500,000 tests because of safety concerns.<ref name="PogCal" /> During the [[Owen Paterson#Lobbying and breach of Commons advocacy rules|Owen Paterson lobbying scandal]], it was reported in March 2020 Randox was awarded a £133&nbsp;million contract from the DHSC to produce testing kits at a cost of £49&nbsp;each<ref name=garside>{{cite news |last1=Garside |first1=Juliette |last2=Smith |first2=Joseph |title=Tory-linked firm involved in testing failure given new £347m Covid contract |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/04/tory-linked-firm-involved-in-testing-failure-awarded-new-347m-covid-contract |access-date=26 October 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=4 November 2020 |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026122231/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/04/tory-linked-firm-involved-in-testing-failure-awarded-new-347m-covid-contract |url-status=live }}</ref> with no other firms being given the opportunity to bid for the work.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neate |first1=Rupert |last2=Garside |first2=Juliette |last3=Lawrence |first3=Felicity |last4=Evans |first4=Rob |date=11 May 2020 |title=Healthcare firm advised by Owen Paterson won £133m coronavirus testing contract unopposed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/11/healthcare-firm-advised-by-owen-paterson-won-133m-coronavirus-testing-contract-unopposed |work=The Guardian |access-date=24 June 2020 |archive-date=2 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602003209/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/11/healthcare-firm-advised-by-owen-paterson-won-133m-coronavirus-testing-contract-unopposed |url-status=live}}</ref> Six months later, a further £347&nbsp;million contract was awarded to Randox without other companies being able to bid.<ref name=garside/>

One of the largest government PPE contracts went to Crisp Websites (trading as PestFix), a business specialising in supplying PPE to protect users from airborne chemicals in pest-control settings.<ref name="British Safety Council">{{cite news |last1=Liversedge |first1=Belinda |title=HSE rejects claims it bowed to 'political' pressure to approve PPE |url=https://www.britsafe.in/publications-and-blogs/safety-management-magazine/safety-management-magazine/2020/hse-rejects-claims-it-bowed-to-political-pressure-to-approve-ppe/ |website=[[British Safety Council]] |access-date=21 December 2020 |date=21 December 2020 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120154838/https://www.britsafe.in/publications-and-blogs/safety-management-magazine/safety-management-magazine/2020/hse-rejects-claims-it-bowed-to-political-pressure-to-approve-ppe/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2020, PestFix secured a contract with the DHSC for a £32&nbsp;million batch of isolation suits; three months after the contract was signed, suits from PestFix were not released for use in the NHS because they were in an NHS supply-chain warehouse awaiting safety assessments.<ref name="Kemp">{{cite news |last1=Kemp |first1=Phil |title=Coronavirus: Safety officials had 'political' pressure to approve PPE |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54897737 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=22 November 2020 |date=12 November 2020 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114090405/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54897737 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Health and Safety Executive]] (HSE) concluded supplies of PPE had not been specified to the correct standard for use in hospitals when they were bought. That June, an email from a firm working with the HSE in June said there was "{{thinsp}}'political' pressure" to get the suits through the quality-assurance process.<ref name="Kemp" /> The gowns were approved for use and released to hospitals during mid-2020; HSE chief executive Sarah Albon said claims her organisation was under 'political' pressure to approve PPE were untrue.<ref name="British Safety Council" />

In a 25 November 2020 letter, Albon wrote: "At no time in the management of PPE supply have any HSE staff indicated that there were feelings of pressure being applied to make specific decisions, to change decisions, or to accept lower standards than required of PPE".<ref name="British Safety Council" /> According to Albon, technical assessments sometimes had to be repeated; the gowns' release to hospitals after failing the first inspection did not mean they were unsuitable or unsafe; saying: "In such cases HSE may have asked the supply chain to obtain further information, or to arrange for further testing, to verify the product. In these cases, products that initially had insufficient or incorrect information provided may have been subsequently reassessed and agreed for supply when those gaps had been addressed."<ref name="British Safety Council" /> The contract was challenged in the courts by the Good Law Project, which asked why the DHSC had agreed to pay 75 per cent in advance when the provider was "wholly unsuited" to deliver such a large and important order.<ref name="Kemp" /> The Good Law Project discovered the company had been awarded PPE contracts worth £313&nbsp;million.<ref name="Adams"/>

=== PPE Medpro controversy ===
{{further|Michelle Mone, Baroness Mone}}
[[File:Michelle Mone (Ultimo founder) 2013.jpg|thumb|It was reported that [[Michelle Mone, Baroness Mone]] (pictured in 2013) and her children had secretly received £29 million of profits to an offshore trust from government [[Personal protective equipment|PPE]] contracts, which she had lobbied for during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]]. The [[House of Lords Commissioner for Standards]] and [[National Crime Agency]] launched investigations into Mone's links to these contracts in January 2022.]]
In October 2020 it was revealed that PPE Medpro, a company led by Anthony Page, a business associate of [[Michelle Mone, Baroness Mone]] and her husband Doug Barrowman, had been awarded a contract for £122 million to supply [[personal protective equipment]] (PPE) to the NHS during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="The Herald">{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Martin |title=Why government awarded "urgent" PPE contract to firm run by ex-associate of Tory peer Michelle Mone |publisher=The Herald |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18780543.government-awarded-urgent-ppe-contract-firm-run-ex-associate-tory-peer-michelle-mone/ |url-status=live |access-date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109103618/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18780543.government-awarded-urgent-ppe-contract-firm-run-ex-associate-tory-peer-michelle-mone/ |archive-date=9 January 2022}}</ref> Page resigned as secretary for MGM Media, the company that manages and receives payment for Mone's branding and media engagements and on the same day he formed Medpro.<ref name="The Herald" /> In October 2020, a spokeswoman for  Mone stated she "has no role or involvement in PPE Medpro", adding: "Mr Barrowman is also not involved in the company PPE Medpro and is not a Director or Shareholder."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sommerlad |first1=Nick |title=Company run by ex-associate of Tory peer Michelle Mone wins £112million NHS contract |work=Daily Record |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/company-run-ex-associate-tory-22812431 |url-status=live |access-date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109103615/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/company-run-ex-associate-tory-22812431 |archive-date=9 January 2022}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=tabloid|date=December 2022}} It later emerged that a second contract for £80 million was awarded to Medpro even earlier when the company was just 4 weeks old.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Jeremy |date=25 November 2021 |title=Call for Baroness Mone to face inquiry over PPE firm |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/call-for-baroness-mone-to-face-inquiry-over-ppe-firm-ldnq2cdgx |url-status=live |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119004332/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/call-for-baroness-mone-to-face-inquiry-over-ppe-firm-ldnq2cdgx |archive-date=19 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gross |first1=Anna |last2=Kelly |first2=Jemima |date=23 November 2021 |title=Leaked government email reveals Tory peer's anger at treatment of PPE company |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3970a940-c6a3-4fa1-b675-1c20aed3aa3d |url-status=live |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182910/https://www.ft.com/content/3970a940-c6a3-4fa1-b675-1c20aed3aa3d |archive-date=18 January 2022}}</ref>

In November 2021, a [[Freedom of Information]] request revealed that Mone personally recommended the company to the government through its VIP fast-track lane for firms with political connections and that the company was awarded £200 million in government contracts. This high-priority process was set up in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to bypass the normal competitive tender process for procurement that was considered urgent. It further emerged in January 2022 that Mone recommended Medpro for a government contract five days before the company had been formed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Michelle Mone referred company for PPE contracts five days before it was incorporated |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/07/michelle-mone-referred-company-for-ppe-contracts-five-days-before-it-was-incorporated |url-status=live |access-date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109033957/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/07/michelle-mone-referred-company-for-ppe-contracts-five-days-before-it-was-incorporated |archive-date=9 January 2022}}</ref> At the time, Mone's lawyers stated that she "was not connected to PPE Medpro in any capacity" but documents leaked to ''[[The Guardian]]'' revealed that a director of the company was a long term employee of Mone's husband's company. [[WhatsApp]] messages seen by ''The Guardian'' appeared to show Mone discussing the size of garments that formed part of a contract. Lawyers for Mone and her husband denied the allegations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Conn |first1=David |last2=Lewis |first2=Paul |last3=Davies |first3=Harry |date=6 January 2022 |title=Tory peer Michelle Mone secretly involved in PPE firm she referred to government |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/06/tory-peer-michelle-mone-involved-ppe-medpro-government-contracts |url-status=live |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106165834/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/06/tory-peer-michelle-mone-involved-ppe-medpro-government-contracts |archive-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>

Following a complaint by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] peer [[George Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock|George Foulkes]], the [[House of Lords Commissioner for Standards|House of Lords commissioner for standards]] launched an investigation into the relationship between Mone and Medpro in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Conn |first=David |date=17 January 2022 |title=Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over 'VIP lane' contract |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117172650/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/17/lords-standards-commissioner-launches-inquiry-into-michelle-mone |archive-date=17 January 2022 |access-date=17 January 2022 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> On 27 April 2022, Mone's homes in London and on the [[Isle of Man]] and associated business addresses were raided by the police, who have launched an investigation into potential fraud.<ref name="NCA investigation">{{cite news |date=29 April 2022 |title=Michelle Mone's company raided by National Crime Agency |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/29/nca-launches-investigation-ppe-firm-linked-to-michelle-mone |url-status=live |access-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429112655/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/29/nca-launches-investigation-ppe-firm-linked-to-michelle-mone |archive-date=29 April 2022}}</ref> The [[National Crime Agency]] is pursuing a tandem investigation into PPE Medpro.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2022 |title=Lords standards watchdog investigates Tory peer over 'VIP' PPE contracts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/31/lords-standards-watchdog-investigates-tory-peer-over-vip-ppe-contracts |access-date=31 May 2022 |work=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

In November 2022, ''The Guardian'' reported that an Isle of Man trust, of which Mone and her adult children are beneficiaries, had received £29 million originating from PPE Medpro via a series of offshore transactions involving Barrowman. Her lawyer had previously said she did not declare PPE Medpro in the House of Lords register of financial interests as "she did not benefit financially and was not connected to PPE Medpro in any capacity."<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 November 2022 |title=Revealed: Tory peer Michelle Mone secretly received £29m from 'VIP lane' PPE firm |language=en |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/nov/23/revealed-tory-peer-michelle-mone-secretly-received-29m-from-vip-lane-ppe-firm |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref>

Mone also lobbied for LFI Diagnostics, a company established as a secret entity of her husband Barrowman's [[family office]], Knox family office.<ref name="Second firm">{{cite news |date=6 December 2022 |title=Revealed: Second firm pushed by Michelle Mone was secret entity of husband's office |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/06/revealed-second-firm-pushed-by-michelle-mone-was-secret-entity-of-husbands-office |url-status=live |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206192959/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/06/revealed-second-firm-pushed-by-michelle-mone-was-secret-entity-of-husbands-office |archive-date=6 December 2022}}</ref> A unnamed source told ''The Guardian'' that Mone was "in a class of her own in terms of the sheer aggression of her advocacy" for LFI Diagnostics. On 6 December 2022, Mone's spokesperson said she was taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords with immediate effect "in order to clear her name of the allegations that have been unjustly levelled against her."<ref name="leave" /><ref name="Second firm" />

On 19 December 2022 it emerged that the government would sue PPE Medpro for £122m plus costs. The government said that medical gowns which were supplied by the company "did not comply with the specification in the contract" and could not be used in the NHS. PPE Medpro said it would "rigorously" defend the claim.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64029040 Government to sue Mone-linked PPE firm for £122m] ''[[BBC News]]''. 19 December 2022.</ref>

== See also ==
*[[British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
*[[United Kingdom parliamentary second jobs controversy]]
*[[2021 Downing Street refurbishment controversy]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories|state=collapsed}}{{Boris Johnson}}{{Rishi Sunak}}

[[Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom on politics]]
[[Category:2020 controversies]]
[[Category:United Kingdom responses to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics]]
[[Category:2021 controversies]]
[[Category:Boris Johnson controversies]]
[[Category:Rishi Sunak]]