The British government has ordered a comprehensive audit of its pandemic procurement practices after Baroness Michelle Mone, a Conservative peer, was served with a lawsuit over her involvement in the awarding of contracts worth £122 million to PPE Medpro, a company linked to her family.
The High Court claim, filed by the government on 14 March, accuses the peer, her husband Douglas Barrowman, and the firm of breach of contract and unjust enrichment. The case centres on three contracts for personal protective equipment awarded in 2020, when demand for medical supplies was critical.
According to court documents, the government alleges that PPE Medpro failed to deliver millions of items that met safety standards, forcing the NHS to write off substantial stock. The contract was secured under a fast-tracked procurement system designed to bypass normal EU competition rules, which has drawn widespread criticism.
Baroness Mone, 53, has faced mounting scrutiny over her links to the company. She has denied wrongdoing, stating that she had no formal role in PPE Medpro and that her involvement was limited to introductions. However, emails seen by the National Audit Office suggest she was closely engaged in lobbying for the contracts.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the audit on Tuesday, describing the affair as a matter of public trust. Speaking in the House of Commons, he said the government would examine all contracts awarded during the pandemic to ensure transparency and value for money.
“This government is committed to learning the lessons of the pandemic,” Sunak said. “Where there is evidence of fraud or mismanagement, we will take action.”
The audit will be conducted by the Cabinet Office and will include a review of over 8,000 emergency procurements, many of which were awarded without competitive tender. Critics have long called for a full inquiry into the “VIP lane” system, which prioritised contacts from political figures.
Labour has seized on the scandal, demanding that Baroness Mone be suspended from the House of Lords pending investigation. Sir Keir Starmer accused the government of a “culture of cronyism” that allowed party donors and allies to profit from the crisis.
The lawnow, brought by the government’s legal team, seeks to recover funds paid to PPE Medpro. If successful, it could set a precedent for holding private contractors and their intermediaries accountable for pandemic-related contracts.
Baroness Mone has not commented on the latest legal action, but her husband called the claim “baseless” in a statement. The case is expected to proceed to trial later this year, while the audit promises to cast a long shadow over the Conservative Party’s handling of the pandemic response.
