But ultimately that provision didn't make its way into the final act which managed to pass in October. ![]() It was understood that the government's most recent legislation in this area - the Online Safety Act – took so long to get on the statute book because a new review of potential harm to teens from social media was necessary. We were expecting a review of evidence to start early in the new year instead of a formal consultation, and this could possibly lead to new rules for the sector. We knew ministers had been discussing the impact sites such as TikTok and Instagram have on young people's wellbeing but today Oliver Dowden did not the deny reports that the government is actively looking at social media restrictions for under-16s. However, the pair claimed they are being made "scapegoats" for the government's wider failings over PPE.īy Serena Barker-Singh, political correspondent She also confirms that the profits from the company had been put into a trust and she and her family were named beneficiaries. In their first interview since the scandal erupted, Baroness Mone and Mr Barrowman admit they lied to the press and the public by not revealing their involvement in PPE MedPro, and apologise. The DHSC is seeking the full £122m for the contract, as well as the costs for storing and destroying the garments.īaroness Mone announces she is taking a leave of absence from the Lords in order to "clear her name".īaroness Mone and Mr Barrowman confirm for the first time they were involved in the company - including that he chaired and led the operation, and put up half the money for PPE MedPro. The government confirms it has started legal action to recover more than £100m from PPE Medpro after the gowns it supplied had been rejected. The National Crime Agency opens its own investigation into PPE MedPro.įurther documents leaked to The Guardian reveal Baroness Mone and her children would receive £29m of the profits from the firm, placed into a trust that they would be the beneficiaries of. The House of Lords' standards commissioner launches an investigation into whether Baroness Mone breached the code of conduct by failing to register her interest in PPE MedPro and by lobbying the government on its behalf.īaroness Mone refutes all the allegations against her. The article alleges the pair were both informed of commercial arrangements, including over WhatsApp. The Guardian reports leaked files that suggest Baroness Mone and Mr Barrowman were involved in the company after she had made the referral. Lawyers representing Baroness Mone and her husband continue to deny their involvement, and tell journalists any suggestion of an association would be "inaccurate", "misleading" and "defamatory".Ī Freedom of Information request reveals Baroness Mone referred the company to the government through Mr Gove and Lord Agnew, which later was processed through the VIP lane. ![]() The DHSC reveals the gowns it had purchased from PPE MedPro had "not been distributed to the frontline" as questions are raised by sources to The Guardian newspaper over whether they are fit for use. PPE MedPro is awarded its second contact by the DHSC - this time for £122m for 25 million sterile surgical gownsīaroness Mone's lawyers say she is "not connected in anyway with PPE MedPro", while Mr Barrowman's legal representatives said he "never had any role or function" in the firm. The company is then awarded its first contract with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) for £80.85m for the supply of 210 million face masks. The UK government announces its first COVID pandemic lockdown and starts trying to source more PPE supplies due to rocketing demand.īaroness Mone emails Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and Tory peer Lord Agnew, saying she could use her contacts in Hong Kong to get more PPE to the UK, and her offer is added to the so-called "VIP lane".ĭays later, the company PPE MedPro is incorporated as a company - though her husband, Doug Barrowman, is not named. Politics reporter Jennifer-Anne Scotthas put together this timeline of the row: The Conservative peer and Ultimo bra tycoon has previously conceded she made an "error" in publicly denying her links to the firm, which was awarded huge contracts during the pandemic and is being investigated by the National Crime Agency (NCA). We have been reporting throughout the day that Baroness Michelle Mone has admitted she stands to benefit from a contract between the government and PPE firm Medpro (see post from 08.20am).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |