Mone accuses Covid inquiry of 'cover-up'

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

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

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

If approved, the authoritative presumption would person allowed the mates to entree enquiry documents, marque statements and use to inquire questions of witnesses.

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

She had antecedently said her main absorption is connected the attack of ministers and the 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 implicit suspected transgression offences committed successful the procurement process.

To day nary charges person been brought and the Crown Prosecution Service has not been instructed successful the case. Baroness Mone, 52, and Mr Barrowman, 59, person some denied wrongdoing.

A peculiar enquiry proceeding astir the institution volition instrumentality spot down closed doors adjacent week aft Baroness Hallett said she was satisfied determination was a hazard of prejudice to the ongoing NCA probe if "sensitive evidence" was made public.

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

The mates said: "While the enquiry refused to exclude PPE Medpro, it handed the NCA the powerfulness to dictate the proceedings down a partition of secrecy, ensuring that lone their mentation of events is heard – portion we are denied the close to support ourselves."

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

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

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

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