- Labour demands government scrutiny
- Baroness Mone faces PPE controversy
- Legal and ethical investigations ongoing
According to the Labour leader, Michael Gove and other ministers “have questions they need to answer” in response to Baroness Mone’s claim that she called them directly to recommend PPE MedPro.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has demanded that the government “examines the conduct of ministers” regarding Baroness Mone throughout the pandemic.
The government issued multi-million-pound contracts to a company affiliated with the Conservative peer and her spouse, Doug Barrowman, causing them to become entangled in controversy for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leaked documents revealed that she had recommended the firm to Cabinet Office ministers, including the now Housing Secretary Michael Gove, which resulted in the firm being granted two contracts totalling over £200 million and access to the so-called “VIP lane.” The couple consistently denied any involvement with PPE MedPro.
Baroness Mone acknowledged her involvement with the enterprise on Sunday, stating that Mr Barrowman was holding approximately £60 million in contract profits in trusts, from which she might profit.
Baroness Mone Claims Initiation, Calls Scapegoat; Labour Demands Clarity
She further asserted that she initiated communication with Mr Gove at the onset of the pandemic in response to a “call to arms for senior civil servants, lords, baronesses, MPs, and lords to assist, as they required enormous quantities of PPE.” She told, “I simply stated, ‘We can help, and we want to help.'” “He exclaimed, ‘Oh my goodness, this is incredible!'”
The government had made her and her spouse “scapegoats” for pandemic PPE procurement mistakes, she said.
Sir Keir characterised the situation as “a shocking disgrace from top to bottom” and stated, “As time passes, additional inquiries remain unanswered.”
However, he emphasised Mr Gove’s and other ministers’ purported responsibilities, stating that they “might have initiated this regrettable narrative initially.”
The leader of the Labour Party stated to the press, “The government must come clear. On that point, it must state to the House of Commons.
“There are now significant inquiries that Michael Gove [and the government] must address,” he continued. “
“With whom did the initial contact occur?” What was the nature of the discourse that precipitated the circumstance we have since acquired knowledge of?
They should state this in the House of Commons today so that the public can learn firsthand what transpired in this situation.
However, none of the three ministerial statements confirmed by the government in the House of Commons this afternoon will address the scandal.
Baroness Mone Faces Investigation
David Cameron appointed lingerie entrepreneur Baroness Mone as a Tory peer in 2015; however, she is on leave.
An investigation is currently underway by the Lords’ Standards commissioner to determine whether she violated the code of conduct by failing to disclose her interests in PPE MedPro.
Sir Keir responded, “When asked if the peer ought to be expelled from the Lords, I maintain that she has no place in the House of Lords. “I believe accountability should be placed on the government for this.”
Baroness Mone should “see sense” and refrain from returning to the upper chamber, as energy minister and Conservative peer Lord Callanan stated. His remarks paralleled those of Mone.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declined to comment on the situation due to ongoing legal proceedings, as the Department of Health and Social Care is currently suing PPE MedPro because millions of the gowns they supplied failed to meet the required standard. Baroness Mone and Mr Barrowman both refute this allegation.
The National Crime Agency has also initiated an investigation into the organisation.
However, Mr Sunak insisted that he and the government “take every single one of these matters extremely seriously.”
