Neil O’Brien MP was factually inaccurate - repeatedly - about the use of the VIP lane for PPE procurement in the Commons yesterday
Here's the link to Hansard: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-11-24/debates/5FBBA997-5B35-49D7-810F-0A5B402A832A/Covid-19PPEProcurement
And here are some corrections - (bear with my attempt at a Mastodon thread)... 🧵
First up - VIP lane referrals did NOT go through the same process as everyone else - that’s *precisely* why the High Court found the VIP Lane to be unlawful
In particular:
- VIP treatment sped up the process, which meant offers were considered sooner in a context where timing was critical
- VIPs’ hands were held throughout
You can read the judgment in the relevant case here: https://goodlawproject.org/update/high-court-vip-lane-ppe-unlawful/
Over a year of hard work has paid off today. The High Court has ruled that the Government’s operation of a fast-track VIP lane for awarding lucrative PPE contracts to those with political connections was unlawful. In a challenge brought by Good Law Project and EveryDoctor to the behind closed door VIP lane worth billions […]
Secondly, O'Brien claimed that due diligence was “done on all those cases in the same way” - also untrue
There *was* an 8-stage due diligence process for contracts awarded from 4th May 2020 - but TWO THIRDS of the contracts awarded before this process was put in place went to VIPs!
Thirdly, if Neil O'Brien wants us to believe that PPE Medpro went through a standardised due diligence process, well, he might want to double check the party line
Because back in May, Edward Argar was able to say only that “due diligence checks were appropriate given the circumstances” for PPE Medpro
#UKPolitics #PPE #CovidProcurement #VIPLane #PPEMedpro #MichelleMone
Lastly, Neil O’Brien wants us to believe that VIPs were referred by MPs across the house
But as we showed at Good Law Project, no other political party *successfully* referred companies via the VIP Lane
Which seems an almighty coincidence!
#UKPolitics #PPE #CovidProcurement #VIPLane #PPEMedpro #MichelleMone
https://goodlawproject.org/conservative-politicians-vip-lane/
A leaked document has revealed which Conservative MPs and Peers funnelled companies through a ‘VIP lane’ for lucrative PPE contracts, without competition. A staggering £1.6 billion worth of contracts were awarded as a result of referrals from just ten politicians at the heart of the Conservative party. The leaked list of the 47 companies in […]
Gemma Abbott
🤖 VS 🤖 