Michelle Mone and PPE Medpro: What really happened in the £122m court battle?
Baroness Michelle Mone. Image Credit: BBC
The UK government has won its landmark £122m case against PPE Medpro, a company linked to Conservative peer Michelle Mone, over 25 million unusable surgical gowns supplied during the Covid-19 pandemic. The High Court ruling brings a dramatic end to one of the most high-profile disputes stemming from the government’s controversial “VIP lane” PPE contracts.
What Did the Court Rule in the PPE Medpro Case?
Justice Cockerill, presiding at London’s Rolls Building, ordered PPE Medpro to repay £122m plus costs and interest. The gowns, purchased in June 2020 to protect NHS staff, were deemed unsafe, with experts warning they could have “seriously harmed or killed patients.”
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) successfully argued that the gowns carried an invalid CE mark and failed to comply with sterility and safety laws.
How Was Michelle Mone Linked to PPE Medpro?
Though Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman initially denied involvement, they admitted in 2023 that Barrowman was the ultimate owner of PPE Medpro. Evidence revealed Mone was active in negotiations with ministers and officials, leveraging her political connections during the bidding process.
Barrowman later received more than £60m in profits, transferring £29m to a trust benefiting Mone and her children.
The VIP Lane Controversy
The contracts awarded to PPE Medpro, £122m for gowns and £80m for face masks, became the most controversial of the Johnson government’s VIP procurement system. The scheme allowed politically connected individuals and companies to jump the queue for pandemic contracts, while thousands of firms with no political access were left out.
What Did PPE Medpro Argue in Its Defence?
PPE Medpro’s legal team insisted the gowns were properly sterilised in China and that the DHSC had agreed to the process before awarding the contract. They claimed the government entered the deal “with their eyes wide open.”
However, the court rejected these arguments, siding with the DHSC’s evidence of non-compliance.
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Wider Investigations Into Michelle Mone and Doug Barrowman
The High Court ruling is separate from the National Crime Agency’s ongoing probe into whether Mone and Barrowman committed criminal offences during the procurement process. The couple have denied all criminal wrongdoing.
In 2023, the DHSC considered delaying its civil case until after the NCA’s investigation but ultimately chose to proceed.
Who Is Michelle Mone?
Mone rose to fame as the founder of the Ultimo lingerie brand before being appointed to the House of Lords by David Cameron in 2015. Her reputation has since been overshadowed by the PPE Medpro scandal, one of the most damaging stories tied to the government’s pandemic response.
What Happens Next?
With the ruling now in place, PPE Medpro is liable for a full repayment of £122m to the UK government. The NCA investigation continues, and political scrutiny of the VIP lane contracts is intensifying, raising fresh questions about accountability, cronyism, and oversight in public procurement.
FAQ
Q: What is the Michelle Mone PPE scandal about?
A: The scandal centres on contracts worth over £200m awarded to PPE Medpro during the Covid pandemic. The firm supplied 25m surgical gowns later deemed unsafe, leading to a £122m High Court repayment order.
Q: How much money must PPE Medpro repay?
A: PPE Medpro has been ordered to repay £122m plus costs and interest to the UK government after the gowns were ruled unusable.
Q: Was Michelle Mone directly involved in PPE Medpro?
A: Yes. While initially denied, Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman later admitted involvement, with Barrowman revealed as the ultimate beneficial owner.
Q: How much did Michelle Mone and Doug Barrowman profit from PPE Medpro?
A: Barrowman received at least £60m, transferring £29m to a trust benefiting Mone and her family.
Q: What is the VIP lane and why is it controversial?
A: The VIP lane was a fast-track system for Covid PPE contracts, prioritising politically connected individuals. Critics argue it fostered cronyism and corruption.
Q: What did the court say about the faulty gowns?
A: The High Court ruled the gowns had an invalid CE mark and could have “seriously harmed or killed patients,” making them unfit for NHS use.
Q: Is Michelle Mone facing criminal charges?
A: Not yet. The National Crime Agency is still investigating potential criminal offences related to the contracts, though Mone and Barrowman deny wrongdoing.
Q: When did Michelle Mone admit involvement with PPE Medpro?
A: In December 2023, after years of public denials, Mone and Barrowman confirmed their connection to the company.
Q: What happens next for PPE Medpro and Michelle Mone?
A: PPE Medpro must repay the £122m, while the NCA investigation continues. Political and public scrutiny of the case remains intense.