A Personal Protective Equipment company with connections to Conservative peer Baroness Michelle Mone has plunged into deeper controversy after missing a critical deadline to repay £145 million to British taxpayers for supplying defective surgical gowns during the pandemic.
Failed Repayment Sparks Government Legal Battle
Medpro, the PPE firm at the centre of the storm, was supposed to return the massive sum to the Department of Health and Social Care by mid-July. However, government sources confirm the company has failed to meet this obligation, triggering immediate legal proceedings to recover public funds.
The Department of Health stated: "We are pursuing legal action against the PPE Medpro consortium to recover taxpayer money. We do not comment on ongoing legal proceedings."
VIP Lane Controversy and Political Connections
Medpro secured its position as a government supplier through the controversial "VIP lane" system during the COVID-19 crisis. Baroness Mone, who referred the company to ministers, has consistently denied any direct involvement with the business.
However, leaked documents have revealed that the Tory peer and her husband, Doug Barrowman, benefited from approximately £65 million in profits from the Medpro deal. Both maintain they've done nothing wrong and are merely being targeted for their association with the company.
Defective Equipment and Patient Safety Concerns
The £145 million repayment demand stems from 25 million surgical gowns supplied by Medpro that were deemed unfit for use in the NHS. Medical professionals raised serious concerns about the gowns' quality, with some reportedly failing basic safety standards.
An NHS trust representative commented: "The failure of these gowns to meet required standards created significant challenges during an already overwhelming period for healthcare services."
Mounting Pressure and Political Fallout
The missed repayment deadline has intensified scrutiny on pandemic-era procurement processes and the government's handling of emergency contracts. Opposition parties are demanding greater transparency and accountability.
Labour's shadow health secretary stated: "This is yet another example of Tory cronyism costing taxpayers millions. The government must explain why it awarded these contracts and what steps it's taking to recover every penny."
As legal battles loom, taxpayers await answers about when—or if—they'll see their money returned from one of the most controversial PPE deals of the pandemic era.
