Michael Gove confirms he cooperated with criminal inquiry into Mone PPE scandal
It comes after Baroness Mone alleged she contacted the housing secretary about PPE MedPro during the pandemic.
Tuesday 19 December 2023 14:43, UK
Michael Gove has cooperated with a National Crime Agency (NCA) inquiry into a firm linked to Baroness Michelle Mone.
The minister said he wanted to help ensure the investigation "reaches its conclusion quickly" and "that justice can be served".
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It comes after Tory-appointed peer Baroness Mone admitted involvement with PPE Medpro, which received over £200m in government contracts during the pandemic.
She is set to benefit from its £60m profits that have been put into a trust by her husband, Doug Barrowman.
But she claimed the pair have been made "scapegoats" by the government for its wider failings in procuring personal protective equipment (PPE), and alleged Mr Gove was the minister she recommended the firm to back in 2020.
Asked about the scandal on Tuesday, Mr Gove gave no comment on Baroness Mone's allegations but confirmed he'd cooperate with the NCA's investigation.
Mr Gove added: "If there are further questions to ask about PPE procurement, and I believe the government has a strong record, then I am more than happy to do so with the COVID inquiry."
He also said it was his "understanding" that Baroness Mone is no longer a member of the Tory party.
Read more:
Who is Michelle Mone and what is the PPE controversy?
Mone bites back over government 'mess'
A spokesperson for Baroness Mone has refuted Mr Gove's comments.
In a statement to Sky News, they said his assertions that the government had a "strong record" on PPE during the COVID crisis were "laughable".
They said the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Cabinet Office purchased five years of supply "when the remit was to build up only four months".
"At least £8.7bn worth of PPE was then written off at the taxpayers' expense," they added, as they called for individuals "at the very top of government" to be "held to account for this mess".
PPE MedPro is being sued by the DHSC over claims millions of the gowns it supplied failed to meet the standard required, which Baroness Mone and Mr Barrowman deny.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said there was "a limit" to what he could say due to legal proceedings, but insisted the government was taking it "incredibly seriously".
Baroness Mone has alleged Mr Sunak was aware of her involvement in PPE Medpro.
She also shared a video on social media which claimed to show links between Mr Gove and another PPE supplier.
Later on Tuesday, Baroness Mone and former health minister Lord Bethell continued to exchange public messages on X about what the other knew during the pandemic.
Lord Bethell claimed the baroness "wasn't 'honest' about her financial interests" when she contacted him in October 2020, and shared a screenshot he claims shows a message from the Tory-appointed peer as evidence.
In response, Baroness Mone replied: "You seem to have mysteriously discovered access to your text messages from 2020.
"Now you've finally found them, will you be sending them all to the COVID inquiry?"
Lord Bethell replied that this "is not true".
He added: "I have set out what messages I do and don't have. I have sent this message and all other relevant messages to the NCA.
"This message shows that you did not declare your financial interests in this company."