Michelle Mone, a previous member of the Conservative party, has confessed to lying about her involvement with a company that earned millions from government PPE contracts during the pandemic, despite previous denials.
Mone clarified that she did not intentionally deceive anyone and had only lied about her involvement to shield her family from media scrutiny. When confronted about her admission of falsehoods to the press, Mone justified her actions by stating that it was not a criminal offense.
The Guardian’s investigations uncovered that Mone and her spouse, Doug Barrowman, had ties to PPE Medpro, a company that was granted contracts totaling £203m in May and June 2020 after Mone reached out to government officials, such as Michael Gove, offering to provide PPE.
The National Crime Agency is currently investigating potential criminal activity related to the company’s procurement of contracts.
Addressing Mone’s remarks to BBC journalist Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, stated, “We are demanding that those who took advantage of the pandemic for personal gain return the money they obtained.”
The Labour party has requested for Gove to attend a meeting with Members of Parliament to address inquiries regarding the controversy.
Last week, a video was posted on YouTube by PPE Medpro, which included the first public interviews with Mone and her husband, Doug Barrowman, since the NCA launched its investigation. The video’s host, Mark Williams-Thomas, stated that the couple are being accused of criminal acts such as conspiracy to defraud, fraud by false representation, and bribery. However, both Mone and Barrowman deny any wrongdoing.
During the Kuenssberg interview, Mone, who previously worked with Ultimo lingerie and was later appointed to the House of Lords by David Cameron in 2015, confessed that she and Barrowman had consistently denied their involvement with PPE Medpro through their legal representatives.
She expressed remorse for her actions, stating, “We have accomplished a lot of good, but if there is anything we have done that we regret, it would be… We should have been open with the media from the start, with nothing to hide… I was simply trying to protect my family. I apologize for that, but I had no intention of deceiving anyone.”
Kuenssberg accused Mone of lying to the press and the public, to which Mone responded by clarifying that telling the press she was not involved was done to protect her family and is not a crime. She stated that her intention was to safeguard her family.
In November of 2022, the Guardian reported that confidential papers from HSBC bank showed that Barrowman had invested in PPE Medpro and received a minimum of £65 million from its earnings. The papers also stated that he subsequently moved £29 million to an overseas trust, the Keristal Trust, which Mone and her three adult children were designated as beneficiaries of.
During his BBC interview, Barrowman revealed for the first time that the company had indeed made a significant profit and that he had sent funds to the Keristal Trust. He stated, “Medpro saw a return of approximately 30% [equivalent to £61m] on its investment.”
The pair recognized that Barrowman had deposited funds into the trust, and during the interview, Mone mentioned the amount of £29 million.
Barrowman stated that he is a resident of the Isle of Man and his income is directed there because that is where he resides. He reports it on his tax return, along with all other sources of income he has accumulated throughout the years. The money is placed in a trust for the well-being of his family.
Kuenssberg inquired about the allocation of profits towards the purchase of a boat. In May 2021, Barrowman acquired a yacht named Lady M for £6m. In August 2021, Mone shared a photo on Instagram of herself and Barrowman aboard the yacht, accompanied by the caption “Running a business may be challenging, but it brings great rewards.”
Barrowman stated that the profits from PPE Medpro were not utilized for the purchase of the yacht. Mone clarified that the yacht does not belong to them, and the money used for its purchase does not belong to them or their family. They also mentioned the negative impact of media attention on their family, and denied having £29 million.
Mone was questioned about her failure to disclose her financial interests with PPE Medpro while serving as a member of the House of Lords. She explained that she had been advised by the Cabinet Office that it was not necessary. A spokesperson for the government responded, “We cannot provide any statements regarding ongoing legal matters.”
The Labour party has been putting pressure on the government following the recent disclosures. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, urged Michael Gove to answer inquiries from Members of Parliament.
The author of a letter addressed to the levelling up secretary expressed concerns about ongoing civil litigation and a National Crime Agency investigation. However, these issues should not prevent the secretary from addressing inquiries regarding their own involvement and the government’s role.
The current events reveal a concerning disregard for public funds by the Conservative government, and a disappointing display of incompetence in regards to the “VIP Lane” for procurement during the pandemic.
Christine Jardine, the Cabinet Office spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats, described Mone’s confession as shocking.
The NCA, a group that investigates serious and organised crime, announced that their inquiry, launched in May 2021, is focused on potential criminal actions related to the acquisition of PPE contracts by PPE Medpro.
The government is taking legal action to retrieve the £122m spent on surgical gowns that were deemed unsafe for use. PPE Medpro is contesting the lawsuit. Following Mone’s interview, Streeting stated that a Labour government would appoint a Covid corruption commissioner to recover a portion of the £8bn lost to fraudulent activities during the pandemic.
During the pandemic, there were those who selflessly helped others and those who took advantage of the situation for their own gain.
Source: theguardian.com
