Thursday 24 November 2022 11:29 PM Michelle Mone IS involved in crime probe over £203m PPE contracts, sleaze ... trends now

3

View
comments

A Tory peer suffered a fresh blow last night as a Westminster sleaze watchdog stated for the first time that she is caught up in a criminal inquiry.

Michelle Mone has been under investigation by the House of Lords Commissioners for Standards since January over her alleged links to a medical supplies firm that won £203million in government contracts after she recommended it to ministers.

She is accused of breaching the Lords Code of Conduct by failing to declare an interest in PPE Medpro as well as by lobbying for it to win the huge deals to provide surgical gowns and face masks.

Yesterday the watchdog stated for the first time that the matter is under investigation as part of a criminal inquiry into the scandal.

Although it emerged in April that the National Crime Agency had searched the Isle of Man home that Baroness Mone shares with her husband as part of a potential fraud investigation into PPE Medpro, she has always denied any involvement in the firm.

A statement on the Parliament website said: ‘The Commissioner is unable to finalise or publish any report into the conduct of Baroness Mone while the matter is under investigation by the police or another agency as part of a criminal investigation. Once any criminal process is complete or has ceased, the Commissioner will complete his investigation and publish his report.’