Baroness Michelle Mone has faced backlash and legal action from the UK government after admitting to lying about her involvement with a company that supplied millions of pounds worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Baroness Mone conceded that she stands to benefit from the profits made by PPE Medpro, a company led by her husband. She has since apologized for not being forthright about her role in the deal, which yielded profits of around £60m.
The controversy has sparked a response from political figures, with Energy Efficiency Minister Lord Callanan expressing hope that Baroness Mone would “see sense” and refrain from returning to the House of Lords. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for her removal from the House of Lords, describing the scandal as a “shocking disgrace from top to bottom.”
In response to the backlash, Baroness Mone has defended herself, claiming that she was “honest” with the government about her involvement. However, this assertion has been disputed by Lord Bethell, who served as a minister in the Department of Health during the pandemic. According to Lord Bethell, Baroness Mone failed to disclose her financial interest in the company to him.
The government has taken swift action against PPE Medpro, suing the company for £122m plus costs for “breach of contract and unjust enrichment.” The company is currently defending the legal action.
The scandal has shed light on the government’s handling of PPE contracts, with Baroness Mone and her husband claiming they have been made scapegoats due to their high-profile status. With investigations by the National Crime Agency and the House of Lords ongoing, the fallout from this controversy is likely to continue for some time.