London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Apr 10, 2026

Questions raised over PPE contract linked to Tory peer Baroness Mone

Questions raised over PPE contract linked to Tory peer Baroness Mone

Jeremy Hunt said he regrets the turbulence of recent months but said he did not accept an analysis that Liz Truss's mini-budget inflicted £30bn worth of damage.
The government is under pressure to release records relating to a multi-million pound PPE contract linked to Tory peer Baroness Mone.

In the House of Commons, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner hit out at a "total failure of due diligence" as she asked about PPE Medpro winning a contract for personal protective equipment and "profits made possible through the company's personal connections to ministers".

"Last night, documents seen by The Guardian revealed that yet another case of taxpayers' money was wasted, a total failure of due diligence, and a conflict of interest at the heart of government procurement," she said.

"In May 2020 PPE Medpro was set up and given £203 million in government contracts after a referral from a Tory peer.

"It now appears that tens of millions of pounds of that money ended up in offshore accounts connected to the individuals involved, profits made possible through the company's personal connections to ministers and the Tories' VIP lane that was declared illegal by the High Court."

Ms Rayner said there "are rightly separate investigations into Baroness Mone's conduct, but the questions this case raises are far wider".

Michelle Mone, the Conservative peer who founded the lingerie brand Ultimo, is under investigation by the House of Lords Commissioner for standards.

Parliament's website says this is over "alleged involvement in procuring contracts for PPE Medpro leading to potential breaches…of the House of Lords code of conduct".

Ms Rayner said the government was refusing to publish correspondence relating to the award of the Medpro contract because they are still engaged in a mediation process.

In an urgent question to health minister Neil O'Brien she asked if that mediation process has reached any outcome "and what public funds have been recovered, if any?"

Mr O'Brien said it was "widely reported it had an underperforming contract" and laid out the process the government would pursue.

"The first step is to send a letter before action which outlines a claim for damages.

"And that's then followed by litigation in the event that a satisfactory agreement has not been reached.

"And to answer the right honourable lady's question directly, we haven't got to the point where a satisfactory agreement has been reached at this stage."

Downing Street would not be drawn on the allegations around Baroness Mone.

Ms Rayner said that while today's reports concern just one case "this government has written off £10 billion alone in PPE that was deemed unfit for use".

"Ministers appear to have learned no lessons and have no shame. As families struggle to make ends meet, taxpayers will spend £700,000 a day on the storage of inadequate PPE."

The government's use of high priority lanes to speed up the award process for PPE contracts during the pandemic have been branded "VIP Lanes" by critics, with Labour previously claiming there is a "cash for access" culture within the Tory party.

But being referred to the high-priority lane "was emphatically not a guarantee of a contract and indeed, nearly 90% of offers referred through the route were unsuccessful", the Downing Street spokesman said.

Baroness Mone has declined to comment on the latest allegations.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Starmer and Trump Hold Strategic Talks on Securing Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Unofficial Australia Visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Expected to Stir Tensions with Royal Circles
New Analysis Explores UK Budget Mechanics in ‘Behind the Blue’ Feature
Man Arrested After Four Die in Channel Crossing Tragedy
UK Tightens Immigration Framework with New Sponsor Rules and Fee Increases
UK Foreign Secretary Highlights Impact of Intensified Strikes in Lebanon
UK Urges Inclusion of Lebanon in US-Iran Ceasefire Framework
UK Stocks Ease as Ceasefire Doubts in Middle East Weigh on Investor Confidence
UK Reassesses Cloud Strategy Amid Criticism Over Limited Support Measures
UK Calls for Full and Toll-Free Access Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Starmer Signals Strategic Shift for Britain Amid Escalating Iran-Linked Tensions
UK Issues Firm Warning to Russia Over Covert Underwater Military Activity
OpenAI Halts Stargate UK Project, Casting Uncertainty Over Britain’s AI Expansion Plans
Starmer Voices Frustration Over Global Pressures Driving UK Energy Costs Higher
UK Deploys Military Assets to Protect Undersea Cables From Suspected Russian Threat
Canada Aligns With US, UK and Australia as Europe Prepares Major Digital Border Overhaul
Meghan Markle’s Planned Australia Appearance Sparks Fresh Speculation
Starmer Warns Sustained Effort Needed to Ensure US–Iran Ceasefire Holds
UK to Partner with Shipping Industry to Rebuild Confidence in Strait of Hormuz, Cooper Says
UK Interest Rate Expectations Ease Following US–Iran Ceasefire Agreement
Starmer Signals Major Effort Needed to Fully Reopen Strait of Hormuz During Gulf Visit
UK Fuel Prices Face Ongoing Volatility Amid Global Pressures and Domestic Factors
Kanye West’s Planned Italy Festival Appearance Draws Debate After UK Entry Ban
Smuggling Routes Shift Toward Belgium as Migrant Crossings to UK Evolve
Ceasefire Offers Potential Relief for UK Fuel and Food Prices Amid Ongoing Uncertainty
Iran Conflict Raises Questions Over UK’s Global Influence and Military Preparedness
Senator McConnell Visits Kentucky to Highlight Federal Investment in Local Projects
Kanye West Barred from Entering UK as Legal Grounds Come into Focus
UK Denies Visa to Kanye West After Sponsors Withdraw from Wireless Festival
Trump-Era Forest Service Restructuring Leads to Closure of UK Lab Focused on Kentucky Woodland Health
Foreign Students in the UK Describe Harsh Living Conditions and Financial Pressures
Reform UK Proposes Visa Restrictions on Nations Pursuing Reparations Claims
Public Reaction Divides Over UK Decision to Bar Kanye West
Calls Grow for UK to Review US Base Access Following Concerns Over Escalating Rhetoric
UK Indicates It Will Not Permit Use of Its Bases for Potential US Strikes on Iran’s Energy Infrastructure
UK Prime Minister Defends Decision to Bar Kanye West, Questions Festival Booking
UK Accelerates Efforts to Harmonise Medical Technology Rules with United States
Wireless Festival Cancelled After Kanye West Denied Entry to the United Kingdom
Australia’s most decorated living soldier was arrested at Sydney Airport and charged with five counts of war-crime murder for the killing of unarmed Afghan civilians
The CIA’s Secret Technology That Can Find You by Your Heartbeat Successfully Locates Downed Airman
Operation Europe: Trump Deploys Vance to Hungary to Save the EU
King Charles Faces Criticism From Some UK Christians Over Absence of Easter Message
Former UK Defence Secretary Raises Concerns Over Ability to Counter Iran Missile Threat
UK Signals Non-Involvement in Iran Conflict as Trump Reasserts Firm Deterrence Stance
US and UK Strengthen Medical Device Cooperation Following Tariff Removal
Trump Backs Steve Hilton for California Governor, Highlighting Reform Agenda
UK Seeks Closer Ties With Anthropic as AI Policy Divergence Emerges Across Atlantic
Experts Warn of Evolving Extremism After Teens Arrested in UK Ambulance Arson Case
UK Convenes Talks to Safeguard Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz After Conflict Escalation
Trump Highlights Strong Leadership in Critique of UK Stance on Iran
×