Underwear Tycoon Michelle Mone Acknowledges Error in Denying Connection to PPE Medpro
A member of Britain’s House of Lords, Michelle Mone, has publicly confessed to repeatedly lying about her involvement with a company that was awarded lucrative government contracts to supply protective masks and gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mone, the founder of Ultimo lingerie, admitted that she made an “error” in denying connections to the company PPE Medpro and expressed regret for threatening to sue journalists who alleged her ties to the firm. Her husband, Doug Barrowman, has also acknowledged his role as the leader of the consortium that owns the company.
In a BBC interview broadcast on Sunday, Mone stated, “I did make an error in saying to the press that I wasn’t involved. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I wasn’t trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes, and I regret and I’m sorry for not saying straight out, ‘Yes, I am involved.'” She further revealed that she benefits from her husband’s financial trusts, which hold approximately £60 million ($76 million) in profits from the deal.
However, Mone argued that she and her husband are being made “scapegoats” in a broader scandal concerning the U.K. government’s spending during the pandemic. “We’ve done one thing, which was lie to the press to say we weren’t involved,” she said. “I can’t see what we’ve done wrong.”
PPE Medpro Case Exemplifies Wasteful Government Contracts
The case involving PPE Medpro has become emblematic of the hundreds of millions of pounds wasted through hastily awarded contracts for protective equipment. The U.K. government has faced severe criticism for its VIP lanes, where politicians recommended companies for public contracts, resulting in preferential treatment.
Mone, who was appointed to the House of Lords by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015, vehemently denied reports that she utilized her political connections to endorse PPE Medpro to senior government officials. The company, which was newly established at the time, secured contracts worth over £200 million ($250 million) during the peak of the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020.
Unfortunately, millions of surgical gowns supplied by PPE Medpro to U.K. hospitals were deemed unfit for use and remained unused. Consequently, the government has initiated breach of contract proceedings. Additionally, the National Crime Agency is currently investigating allegations of fraud and bribery surrounding the case.
Deputy Prime Minister Defends VIP Lanes
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has come forward to defend the so-called VIP lanes, which were reserved for referrals from lawmakers and senior officials. Dowden insisted that there had been “no favors or special treatment” given to government cronies. He stated, “With any large allocation of government funds for large-scale procurement, there are going to be issues that arise subsequently. You can see there is civil litigation happening, you can see there is a criminal investigation happening. So, if there is fraud, the government will crack down.”
