Baroness Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman have accused the Covid inquiry of an “institution cover-up” after their second try and be given an official position within the inquiry was rejected.
The couple claimed they have been the targets of a “politically motivated witch hunt” after the inquiry’s chairwoman, Baroness Hallett, refused their utility to be made “core individuals”.
PPE Medpro, a agency led by Mr Barrowman, was awarded authorities contracts value greater than £200m after Baroness Mone really useful it to ministers.
If accepted, the official standing would have allowed the couple to entry inquiry paperwork, make statements and apply to ask questions of witnesses.
Baroness Hallett first rejected their strategy in February, saying it got here 468 days after the deadline for functions, and he or she didn’t settle for that they had a big sufficient position “within the issues to be investigated by the inquiry”.
She had beforehand stated her principal focus is on the strategy of ministers and the federal government, slightly than Private Protecting Tools (PPE) suppliers.
The Covid inquiry is conducting 4 weeks of hearings taking a look at offers to purchase £15bn of PPE throughout Covid.
The Nationwide Crime Company (NCA) has been investigating PPE Medpro since Could 2021 over suspected prison offences dedicated within the procurement course of.
So far no expenses have been introduced and the Crown Prosecution Service has not been instructed within the case. Baroness Mone, 52, and Mr Barrowman, 59, have each denied wrongdoing.
A particular inquiry listening to in regards to the firm will happen behind closed doorways subsequent week after Baroness Hallett stated she was glad there was a danger of prejudice to the continued NCA investigation if “delicate proof” was made public.
In a joint assertion, Baroness Mone and her husband stated the choice to listen to proof in non-public was “a blatant betrayal of transparency and justice” and accused the NCA of waging “a ruthless marketing campaign” towards them.
The couple stated: “Whereas the inquiry refused to exclude PPE Medpro, it handed the NCA the facility to dictate the proceedings behind a wall of secrecy, guaranteeing that solely their model of occasions is heard – whereas we’re denied the fitting to defend ourselves.”
In a social media put up, Baroness Mone stated she didn’t realise that the corporate can be “particularly profiled” by the inquiry till the top of February.
“Till then, it was understood that discussions have been normal, masking general PPE procurement, not concentrating on any particular person entity,” she added.
The couple’s assertion was launched after their second strategy to be made core individuals was rejected.
Baroness Hallett stated permitting the appliance to proceed would have led to a “additional diversion of sources” and have triggered “important disruption” to the inquiry’s timetable.
