Following a High Court ruling ordering PPE Medpro to repay £122 million, critics demand a comprehensive freeze on assets linked to Michelle Mone and her husband amid allegations of profiteering from Covid-19 contracts.
Michelle Mone, the Conservative peer known as Baroness Mone, and her husband Doug Barrowman are at the centre of mounting calls for a comprehensive freeze on assets linked to their family following a High Court ruling that has ordered their company PPE Medpro to repay £122 million to the UK Government. This judgment stems from the firm’s breach of a £203 million Covid-19 contract to supply 25 million surgical gowns, which were deemed faulty and unfit for NHS use due to a failure to meet sterility standards.
The gowns, manufactured in China and rejected by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), were part of PPE Medpro’s contract awarded via a controversial “VIP fast lane” under the previous Conservative government. Lady Mone recommended the company for the contract, a connection that later became the subject of extensive scrutiny. Initially denying involvement for three years, Mone admitted in 2023 to misleading the public about her role, while both she and Barrowman maintain they committed no wrongdoing. However, the High Court’s decision emphasises compliance failures rather than profit motives, with the government seeking repayment of the contract’s full value plus minor additional costs.
Following the ruling, it has emerged that Barrowman and Mone reaped approximately £65 million in profits from the PPE deal, which were transferred into trusts benefiting Mone, Barrowman, and their three children. Between 2020 and 2022, companies linked to the couple undertook an aggressive property acquisition spree in Glasgow, acquiring over a dozen high-value homes worth around £13 million, which added to their substantial property portfolio including London residences and a luxury yacht. Some properties are already subject to a partial £75 million assets freeze ordered by the courts last year amid an ongoing National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into alleged fraud and bribery.
Despite these measures, critics have highlighted that the owners continue to benefit financially, collecting estimated rental income of up to £300,000 annually from some of these Glasgow properties. This has intensified calls from senior Scottish politicians and campaigners for a total freeze on all assets associated with the Barrowman-Mone family to safeguard taxpayer interests and ensure full recovery of the government’s funds. Susan Murray, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dunbartonshire, condemned the situation as a “waste of billions” of public money benefiting Conservative donors during the pandemic.
SNP MP Chris Law and Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie echoed the demand to freeze all assets linked to the couple, cautioning against any scenario allowing the family to retain wealth acquired through what they describe as a scandalous exploitation of the Covid procurement system. Harvie particularly criticised Mone’s continued status as a House of Lords member with voting rights and entitlement to expenses, arguing that retaining her peerage amid this controversy would pose a “huge moral hazard” to UK democracy.
Legal complexities surround the government’s efforts to recoup the funds, as PPE Medpro has filed for administration and reports show its UK accounts list net assets of just under £700,000. There are suggestions of a second PPE Medpro company based in the Isle of Man, where the Barrowmans reside, which could hold additional assets. Tax experts propose that pursuance of international and offshore assets might still enable partial recovery of the £122 million sum.
The High Court judgment underscores the problematic nature of emergency government contracts awarded during the pandemic, with PPE Medpro’s gowns failing key regulatory compliance measures, lacking required sterility certifications, and never being used by NHS staff. The case forms part of a wider political effort by the Labour government, led by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, to reclaim funds lost to flawed Covid procurement. Reeves confirmed that recovered money would support public services, reflecting broader public anger over the perceived misuse of taxpayer money.
This scandal has not only financial but significant political repercussions. Michelle Mone lost the Conservative whip when the scandal surfaced and has expressed disinterest in returning to the Lords. She recently accused Labour politicians of stirring up hostility towards her family, claiming she and her children have received threats following coverage of the probe. Nonetheless, there remains pressure from campaigners and politicians alike for her to be stripped of her title.
As investigations by the National Crime Agency continue, the focus remains on securing financial redress and ensuring accountability for what critics label a severe breach of public trust. The government’s legal victory marks a pivotal moment in addressing coronavirus contract controversies, but questions linger over the full extent to which UK taxpayers will see their money returned.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is based on a recent High Court ruling from 1 October 2025, ordering PPE Medpro to repay £122 million to the UK Government. This is a fresh development, with no evidence of prior publication of this specific information. The Daily Record article is the earliest known publication of this news. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, such as Mone’s previous denials and admissions regarding her involvement with PPE Medpro. This update may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/b7d784339dbfe5e3540887e47c471864?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Michelle Mone and other individuals. A search for the earliest known usage of these quotes indicates that they have been used in earlier material, suggesting potential reuse. For example, Mone’s admission of involvement with PPE Medpro was reported in December 2023. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/9261f4a40b80fd986f6d0135c412367b?utm_source=openai)) The wording of the quotes varies slightly across sources, indicating possible paraphrasing or selective quoting. No online matches were found for some quotes, raising the possibility of original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Record, a regional newspaper in Scotland. While it has a history of investigative reporting, it is not as widely recognised as national outlets like the BBC or The Guardian. The Daily Record has previously reported on related aspects of the PPE Medpro case, indicating a degree of familiarity with the subject matter. ([dailyrecord.co.uk](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/michelle-mone-shuts-down-more-32633904?utm_source=openai)) However, the lack of corroboration from other reputable sources in this instance raises questions about the reliability of the report.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative makes several claims, including the High Court ruling, Mone’s admission of involvement, and calls for asset freezes. These claims are plausible and align with known facts, such as the High Court ruling on 1 October 2025. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/b7d784339dbfe5e3540887e47c471864?utm_source=openai)) However, the article lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is concerning. The tone and language used are consistent with typical reporting on such topics, and there are no excessive or off-topic details. The structure and tone do not raise immediate red flags.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents a recent High Court ruling involving Michelle Mone and PPE Medpro, with some updated information. However, the reliance on a single source, potential reuse of quotes, and lack of corroboration from other reputable outlets raise concerns about its credibility. Further verification from additional sources is recommended to confirm the accuracy of the claims made.
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