Baroness Mone faces the prospect of being interviewed under caution by investigators probing a £200million Covid PPE deal
Share this @internewscast.com


Baroness Mone faces the prospect of being interviewed under caution by investigators probing a £200million Covid PPE deal.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has raided six properties, including the peer’s home in London, as part of a probe into contracts for masks and medical gowns supplied during the pandemic which were never used.

Now it has emerged that the former lingerie tycoon, 50, is likely to be interviewed by the NCA as part of the fraud investigation into PPE Medpro, which received £200million of contracts from the Department of Health after she recommended it to ministers in 2020.

The NCA probe is expected to take months but it is anticipated that she will be questioned as part of its inquiry, a source said. The peer – nicknamed Baroness Bra – has denied any wrongdoing.

Baroness Mone faces the prospect of being interviewed under caution by investigators probing a £200million Covid PPE deal

Baroness Mone faces the prospect of being interviewed under caution by investigators probing a £200million Covid PPE deal

Yesterday a legal representative for Baroness Mone declined to comment.

The 50-year-old nicknamed ‘Baroness Bra’ after she was appointed by David Cameron as a Tory peer seven years ago, allegedly contacted Cabinet Office ministers, including Michael Gove, to recommend the business at the height of the pandemic.

At the time, ministers were desperate to obtain stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) amid soaring hospital admission rates due to Covid-19.

Within a few weeks, PPE Medpro, a virtually unknown company, was awarded two contracts, one worth £81million to supply masks and a £122million order for gowns, without any competitive tender.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has raided six properties, including the peer’s home in London

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has raided six properties, including the peer’s home in London

The awards were made under a special ‘VIP lane’ for politically connected companies.

Edward Argar, a health minister, later told parliament: ‘Departmental records indicate that Baroness Mone identified Medpro as a potential supplier on May 7, 2020, and highlighted this opportunity by email on May 8, 2020.’ Yet PPE Medpro was only incorporated in the UK on May 12, 2020, according to Companies House filings.

An affiliated company with the same name was set up on the Isle of Man the previous day.

After a quality inspection, 25 million medical gowns the firm supplied from China were never used by the NHS.

Officials have been trying for months to recover the money from the company, although PPE Medpro says it met the terms of the contract.

Now it has emerged that the former lingerie tycoon, 50, is likely to be interviewed by the NCA as part of the fraud investigation into PPE Medpro

Now it has emerged that the former lingerie tycoon, 50, is likely to be interviewed by the NCA as part of the fraud investigation into PPE Medpro

In January, Martin Jelley, the Lords standards commissioner, announced he was investigating whether Mone, a former lingerie tycoon, should have registered an interest in the company or if she broke any lobbying rules.

In response, the peer said: ‘I completely refute these allegations. I was asked to help at a time of national emergency. I declared all necessary interests and have done nothing wrong.

‘I will co-operate fully with any investigation.’

An NCA spokesman said: ‘We do not routinely confirm or deny the existence of investigations or the names of those who may or may not be under investigation.’

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Couple Arrested Following Nightclub Incident Involving Gun Threat

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early this morning, law enforcement apprehended Juan…

Florida Attorney General Criticizes Judge and Immigration Groups in Supreme Court Response

Background: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier at a press conference on June…

Brave Woman Prevents Theft of Boy’s Water Sales: Police Report

Mikaya Williams (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office). Background: Intersection of Edgewood Avenue and Moncrief…

Police: Woman Used Insect Foggers to Remove Family from Apartment

Ervyana Davis (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department via WZTV). A Tennessee woman is…

Alachua Resident Charged with Sexual Assault on Homeless Woman

Staff report ALACHUA, Fla. – Taverous Tywon Lorenza Williams, aged 47, residing…

Prosecutor Accuses “Deal with the Devil” as Kohberger Found Guilty in Court Outburst

In a recent court appearance, Bryan Kohberger confessed to the murder of…

Ten Masked Intruders Armed with Machetes Disrupt Party

A teenage boy was allegedly slashed with a machete after ten people…

Mother Accused of Stabbing Children and Starting Fire Believing They Were ‘Possessed by the Devil’: Prosecutors

Inset: Wendy Tolbert (Chicago Police Department). Background: The home of Wendy Tolbert…

Police: Suspect in murder case attempts to hire inmate to eliminate witnesses

Inset: DeAndre Williams (Milwaukee County Jail). Background: Williams during his first hearing…

Melbourne Arson Case: Police Explore Potential Connections

Five people are sought over an arson attack on a business in…

Judge Delivers Sentence for Man Who Used Extension Cord to Discipline Stepchildren

Lerenzo Legardy (Dona Ana County Jail). A man from New Mexico, who…

Woman Assaulted with Rock and Screwdriver and Raped, Says DA

Inset: Daysnel Hernandez (Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area near the underpass…