Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Michelle Mone admits involvement with 'VIP lane' PPE company
Exclusive: Tory peer and husband, Douglas Barrowman, had repeatedly denied roles in firm given £200m government Covid contracts
...
The admissions raise questions about years of denials from the couple. Until now, Mone and Barrowman have consistently and emphatically denied to the Guardian, via lawyers, that they were involved in the company.
In November 2020, Mone’s lawyer asserted that “Baroness Mone is not connected in any way with PPE Medpro”. Barrowman’s lawyers repeatedly denied that he was an investor in the company or a consortium supporting it, and said he “never had any role or function in PPE Medpro”.
In December 2020, a lawyer instructed by Mone and Barrowman said “any suggestion of an association” between the Tory peer and PPE Medpro would be “inaccurate”, “misleading” and “defamatory”.
And in February 2022, Mone’s lawyer wrote: “You [the Guardian] have now been placed on notice on numerous occasions of our client’s position in relation to PPE Medpro. She has no involvement in the business … She has never had any role or function in PPE Medpro, nor in the process by which contracts were awarded to PPE Medpro.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/06/michelle-mone-admits-involvement-with-vip-lane-ppe-company
...
The admissions raise questions about years of denials from the couple. Until now, Mone and Barrowman have consistently and emphatically denied to the Guardian, via lawyers, that they were involved in the company.
In November 2020, Mone’s lawyer asserted that “Baroness Mone is not connected in any way with PPE Medpro”. Barrowman’s lawyers repeatedly denied that he was an investor in the company or a consortium supporting it, and said he “never had any role or function in PPE Medpro”.
In December 2020, a lawyer instructed by Mone and Barrowman said “any suggestion of an association” between the Tory peer and PPE Medpro would be “inaccurate”, “misleading” and “defamatory”.
And in February 2022, Mone’s lawyer wrote: “You [the Guardian] have now been placed on notice on numerous occasions of our client’s position in relation to PPE Medpro. She has no involvement in the business … She has never had any role or function in PPE Medpro, nor in the process by which contracts were awarded to PPE Medpro.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/06/michelle-mone-admits-involvement-with-vip-lane-ppe-company
BACKGROUND: I've posted about this slow-burning scandal - just one among many PPE scandals resulting from the peak COVID era and involving Tory figures or donors that the government has either shamelessly refused point blank to investigate or slow-pedalled - a number of times over the last year or so:
Revealed: Tory peer Michelle Mone secretly received 29m from 'VIP lane' PPE firm - https://www.democraticunderground.com/108822177
Revealed: Second firm pushed by Michelle Mone was secret entity of husband's office - https://www.democraticunderground.com/108822191
Michelle Mone's businessman husband faces jail if found guilty of Spanish tax charge - https://www.democraticunderground.com/108822201
Legal action launched against Michelle Mone-linked PPE Medpro - https://www.democraticunderground.com/108822210
Various individuals and investigators have been raking through the story of Lady Mone's grift, including the Good Law Project and TV personality turned political activist Carol Vorderman.
Guerrilla public information activists Led By Donkeys published a useful summary last December:
Link to tweet
Led By Donkeys
@ByDonkeys
Strap in, we’re going on a ride from Westminster to the Isle of Man. This is the story of Michelle Mone and that £29m.
[Twitter video]
@ByDonkeys
Strap in, we’re going on a ride from Westminster to the Isle of Man. This is the story of Michelle Mone and that £29m.
[Twitter video]
The BBC's Ros Atkins also posted a handy guide to the action as of December 2022:
Link to tweet
Ros Atkins
@BBCRosAtkins
The story of Michelle Mone and PPE Medpro. A story of allegations and of denials. In 6 mins. Produced by Michael Cox and Mary Fuller https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63871448
[Twitter video]
@BBCRosAtkins
The story of Michelle Mone and PPE Medpro. A story of allegations and of denials. In 6 mins. Produced by Michael Cox and Mary Fuller https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63871448
[Twitter video]
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
