Mone Accuses Covid Inquiry Of 'cover-up'

Baroness Mone and her hubby Doug Barrowman person accused nan Covid enquiry of an "establishment cover-up" aft their 2nd effort to beryllium fixed an charismatic domiciled successful nan enquiry was rejected.

The mates claimed they were nan targets of a "politically motivated witch hunt" aft nan inquiry's chairwoman, Baroness Hallett, refused their exertion to beryllium made "core participants".

PPE Medpro, a patient led by Mr Barrowman, was awarded authorities contracts worthy much than £200m aft Baroness Mone recommended it to ministers.

If approved, nan charismatic position would person allowed nan mates to entree enquiry documents, make statements and use to inquire questions of witnesses.

Baroness Hallett first rejected their attack successful February, saying it came 468 days aft nan deadline for applications, and she did not judge they had a ample capable domiciled "in nan matters to beryllium investigated by nan inquiry".

She had antecedently said her main attraction is connected nan attack of ministers and nan government, alternatively than Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suppliers.

The Covid enquiry is conducting 4 weeks of hearings looking astatine deals to bargain £15bn of PPE during Covid.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has been investigating PPE Medpro since May 2021 complete suspected criminal offences committed successful nan procurement process.

To day nary charges person been brought and nan Crown Prosecution Service has not been instructed successful nan case. Baroness Mone, 53, and Mr Barrowman, 59, person some denied wrongdoing.

A typical enquiry proceeding astir nan institution will return spot down closed doors adjacent week aft Baroness Hallett said she was satisfied location was a consequence of prejudice to nan ongoing NCA investigation if "sensitive evidence" was made public.

In a associated statement, Baroness Mone and her hubby said nan determination to perceive grounds successful backstage was "a blatant betrayal of transparency and justice" and accused nan NCA of waging "a ruthless campaign" against them.

The mates said: "While nan enquiry refused to exclude PPE Medpro, it handed nan NCA nan powerfulness to dictate nan proceedings down a wall of secrecy, ensuring that only their type of events is heard – while we are denied nan correct to take sides ourselves."

In a social media post, Baroness Mone said she did not realise that nan institution would beryllium "specifically profiled" by nan enquiry until nan extremity of February.

"Until then, it was understood that discussions were general, covering wide PPE procurement, not targeting immoderate individual entity," she added.

The couple's connection was released aft their 2nd attack to beryllium made halfway participants was rejected.

Baroness Hallett said allowing nan exertion to proceed would person led to a "further diversion of resources" and person caused "significant disruption" to nan inquiry's timetable.