A High Court ruling mandates PPE Medpro to pay £122 million after breaching a government contract amid controversy over Covid-19 supply deals linked to Conservative peer Michelle Mone, highlighting ongoing issues of transparency and accountability in pandemic procurement.
A company linked to the Conservative peer Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman has been ordered to pay £122 million in damages after a High Court judge ruled it breached a government contract during the Covid-19 pandemic, marking a significant legal and political development amid ongoing scrutiny of pandemic-related procurement.
The case involves PPE Medpro, a medical supply firm that secured a £122 million contract to supply 25 million sterile surgical gowns to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) in 2020. The gowns, manufactured in China and delivered between August and October that year, were found by the court to have failed critical sterility standards, meaning they could not be used in healthcare settings. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) rejected the gowns and sought compensation for the breach. The judge, Mrs Justice Cockerill, ruled that PPE Medpro did not demonstrate it had undertaken the required validated sterilisation process, a fundamental contractual obligation, and ordered the company to repay the full sum. However, a claim for £8.6 million in storage costs was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. The gowns remain unused and stored in government facilities.
PPE Medpro’s contract was awarded through a so-called “VIP lane” for urgent Covid-19 supplies, a process criticised for favouring politically connected firms. The company was recommended by Baroness Mone, a peer ennobled by former Prime Minister David Cameron, who, along with her husband, is described as the company’s principal backer. The selection of PPE Medpro epitomises wider concerns about cronyism in pandemic procurement, where speed and connections arguably overshadowed due diligence. Baroness Mone has denied wrongdoing, claiming she and her husband are being unfairly scapegoated. Mr Barrowman described the court ruling as a “travesty of justice.” Nevertheless, the financial position of PPE Medpro complicates the recovery of the awarded damages; the firm has net assets of under £700,000 and filed a notice of intent to appoint an administrator just prior to the ruling, casting doubt on whether the government can reclaim the full amount.
The ruling has provoked strong reactions across media outlets. Several newspapers demand accountability and call for Baroness Mone to relinquish her House of Lords seat or title. Chancellor Rachel Reeves publicly urged the peer to quit, while campaigners push for stronger repercussions linked to the PPE scandal. The Labour government, which took power after the pandemic contracts were awarded, has made recovering funds lost in PPE procurement a priority to support public services and restore trust in government spending.
This case is emblematic of the broader challenges and controversies surrounding the UK government’s emergency procurement during the pandemic, highlighting the tension between urgent supply needs and the risk of contractual and operational failures. The legal judgment underscores the critical importance of compliance with standards in public health contracts, even in crisis contexts, while shining a light on governance and transparency issues.
In a related but separate issue, the Labour government announced new, stricter immigration reforms that will affect refugees in the UK. These measures include ending the automatic right to permanent residence after five years for those granted asylum, extending the qualification period potentially up to ten years, and requiring applicants to demonstrate contributions to British society through social security payments, clean records, English proficiency, and volunteering. Notably, automatic family reunification rights for refugees have been suspended since September as part of efforts to curb illegal immigration and reduce support for populist parties. The government emphasised that asylum seekers will still retain essential protections and will not be sent back to their home countries illegally. These reforms represent a significant shift in refugee policy and reflect wider political debates on immigration control.
Overall, these developments highlight a period of significant political and legal flux in the UK, with government efforts to manage post-pandemic financial accountability intersecting with substantial changes in immigration policy under the new administration.
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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:
10
Notes:
✅ The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being October 1, 2025. The report is based on a recent High Court ruling, making it highly current.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
✅ The quotes are original, with no earlier matches found online. This suggests the content is exclusive and not recycled.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
✅ The narrative originates from reputable sources, including the Associated Press and The Guardian, enhancing its credibility. The BBC News report is also cited, further supporting the reliability of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
✅ The claims are plausible and corroborated by multiple reputable outlets. The High Court ruling and the involvement of Baroness Mone and Doug Barrowman are consistent across sources.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
✅ The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from reputable outlets, with claims that are plausible and corroborated by multiple sources. No significant credibility risks were identified.
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