Firm linked to Tory peer Michelle Mone breached £122m PPE contract, High Court rules

A institution linked to Tory adjacent Baroness Michelle Mone breached a authorities declaration of astir £122m to proviso surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the High Court has ruled.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) brought the lawsuit against the institution PPE Medpro, saying it provided 25 cardinal "faulty", non-sterile gowns.

The company, a consortium led by Lady Mone's husband, businessman Doug Barrowman, was awarded the authorities declaration aft she recommended it to ministers.

Both Lady Mone and Mr Barrowman denied wrongdoing, and neither gave grounds astatine the proceedings successful June.

She had initially denied engagement successful the institution oregon the process done which it was handed the authorities contract.

However, it was aboriginal revealed that Baroness Mone was the "source of referral" for the steadfast getting a spot connected the alleged "VIP lane" for offers of idiosyncratic protective instrumentality for the NHS.

Yesterday, Lady Mone accused the authorities of making her and her hubby a "poster mates for the PPE scandal", successful a lengthy online tirade.

Legal representatives for DHSC said the lawsuit against PPE Medpro was "simply astir compliance" and that it was "not acrophobic with immoderate profits made by anybody".

The authorities wants to retrieve the costs of the £121m deal, and the costs of transporting and storing the items, which magnitude to an further £8.6m.

Ahead of the ruling, PPE Medpro filed a "notice of assignment to name an administrator" connected Tuesday.

This breaking quality communicative is being updated and much details volition beryllium published shortly.

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