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Corruption risks in Covid contracts highlighted as inquiry returns

09 Sep 2024 3 minute read
Health workers wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). Photo Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Analysis of Covid-related contracts worth some £15.5 billion has identified corruption concerns, campaigners have claimed.

The research by Transparency International UK suggests there are questions to answer about the nature of 135 contracts made during the pandemic.

The group points to at least 28 contracts, worth £4.1 billion, which went to organisations with close connections at Westminster, particularly with the Conservatives who were in government during the pandemic.

It also raises concerns about contracts awarded through the VIP lane, a system deemed unlawful by the high court, of which 15 contracts worth £1.7 billion were awarded to politically connected suppliers.

Red flags

The analysis also raises red flags about contracts which went to “new inexperienced suppliers”, and uncompetitive processes.

It comes as the Covid-19 Inquiry is set to reconvene for its third module, examining the impact of the pandemic on the UK’s health services.

Daniel Bruce, chief executive of Transparency International UK, said: “The scale of corruption risk in the former government’s approach to spending public money during the years of the Covid pandemic was profound.”

He added: “The Covid procurement response was marked by various points of systemic weakness and political choices that allowed cronyism to thrive, all enabled by woefully inadequate public transparency.

“As far as we can ascertain, no other country used a system like the UK’s VIP lane in their Covid response.”

He urged the authorities to “ensure full accountability”, as ministers look to appoint a Covid corruption commissioner.

The report titled Behind the Masks, due to be launched in Westminster on Monday afternoon, recommends ministers investigate the concerns it highlights, bolster its procurement practices and safeguards against impropriety.

A Conservative spokesman said: “Government policy was in no way influenced by the donations the party received – they are entirely separate.”

Anti-corruption probe

Rachel Reeves told the Commons in July a Covid anti-corruption probe would go ahead, aimed at clawing back money from Covid fraud.

A spokesperson for the Treasury, which is now leading efforts on investigating Covid era corruption, said: “The Chancellor has been clear that she will not tolerate waste and will appoint a Covid corruption commissioner to get back the money that is owed to the British people.

“The commissioner will report directly to the Chancellor, working with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and their report will be presented to Parliament for all Members to see.”


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Jeff
Jeff
1 month ago

Johnson government one of the most bent in UK’s history since the kings were stopped running things.

Who knew.

All that loot would be useful about now.

Howie
Howie
1 month ago
Reply to  Jeff

But Johnson and Tories not alone, remember this from Nation Cymru.

https://nation.cymru/news/vaughan-gething-donor-landed-1-8m-ppe-contract/

Whoever or wherever there is COVID corruption it needs rooting out.

Jeff
Jeff
1 month ago
Reply to  Howie

Yeah, not good. But, and here is the kicker, you wanna see how 15 billion looks to 1.8 million?

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 month ago

Still, plenty more where that came from…

All those names and bank details, at least put their money on remand and to good use…

Give something warm for Christmas…

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 month ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

If we can seize assets of dodgy Russians close to Putin then seizing the assets of dodgy Brits close to Boris & Co should not be such a major challenge. Next problem, gifts/donations to politicians ?

Last edited 1 month ago by hdavies15
Gareth
Gareth
1 month ago

It is obvious that corruption was at the heart of these contracts, when official suppliers with stock were ignored and contracts given to a pub landlord, eight contracts worth £500 million given to brand new companies, who were less than 100 days old, Europa worldwide, a warehouse and shipping company was supplying ppe and covid test kits, the owner had donated £1 million to the Tory party. The list is endless.

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