High Court Rules Government Contract with PPE Medpro Breached Regulations: Baroness Michelle Mone's Company Faces £122m Loss
A government contract worth nearly £122m awarded to PPE Medpro, a company associated with Tory peer Baroness Michelle Mone, has been found to have breached regulations by the High Court. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) brought the case, claiming that the company supplied 25 million non-sterile surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The High Court ruled that the gowns did not meet the required sterility standards, and the DHSC could not recoup the loss by selling them.
The company, led by Lady Mone's husband Doug Barrowman, was recommended for the contract by Baroness Mone herself. Despite denying any wrongdoing, both Lady Mone and Mr. Barrowman did not provide evidence during the trial. It was later revealed that Lady Mone was the referral source for the company to be included in the \"VIP lane\" for PPE offers to the NHS. The government is seeking to recover the £121m contract costs and additional expenses for transportation and storage, totaling £8.6m.
In response to the ruling, PPE Medpro filed a notice of appointment to appoint an administrator. Lady Mone criticized the government for portraying her and her husband as the \"poster couple for the PPE scandal\". The case against PPE Medpro was focused on compliance with regulations, rather than profits made by individuals. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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