In a stunning admission that confirms long-standing suspicions, Conservative peer Michelle Mone has publicly acknowledged for the first time that she stands to benefit from £200 million worth of pandemic PPE contracts awarded to a company she repeatedly denied connections with.
The Damning Confession
Baroness Mone, who gained fame as the founder of Ultimo bras, broke her silence in a YouTube documentary, conceding that she and her children would potentially gain financially from the massive government deals secured by PPE MedPro. This marks a complete reversal from her previous vehement denials of any involvement with the company.
"If one day, if God forbid, my family and I benefit from this, then so be it," Mone stated, adding dramatically, "I can't see what we have done wrong."
The VIP Lane Controversy
The PPE MedPro company found itself at the centre of a political firestorm after being fast-tracked through the government's controversial "VIP lane" during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This special channel was reserved for referrals from ministers and senior officials, allowing companies to bypass normal procurement procedures.
Despite Mone's previous insistence that she had "no role" in the company, documents revealed she had recommended PPE MedPro to ministers, ultimately leading to contracts worth over £200 million for surgical gowns and face masks.
Legal Battles and Denials
The Department of Health and Social Care is currently pursuing the company through legal channels, alleging that millions of surgical gowns supplied by PPE MedPro were unfit for use in the NHS. The company vigorously denies these allegations.
Meanwhile, Mone and her husband, Doug Barrowman, have been under criminal investigation by the National Crime Agency since May 2021 regarding the PPE contracts. Both maintain they've done nothing wrong.
A Pattern of Deception?
Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, didn't mince words, calling Mone's admission "a sickening insult to the British public." She accused the Tory peer of "lying through her teeth for two years" while potentially profiting from pandemic funds.
The controversy raises serious questions about transparency in government procurement during emergencies and the ethical responsibilities of those in positions of power.
