Potential Covid Contract corruption

[The Dolphin]

An interesting article in the recent Sunday Times from Henry Newman - special advisor to Gove and Johnson.
I quote a part because i can't find it online - April 2020 - Rachel Reeves wrote to Gove imploring the Government to respond faster and leave "no stone unturned" hunting for PPE.
Her missive included companies ready to contribute, including what turned out to be a Football Agent who would supply ventilators and a medieval bodice maker who would make surgical gowns!
Not long after, she complained that the Tories had spent too much - what a surprise!
Was there corruption - possibly; were we overcharged by every supplier wanting to profit from disaster - absolutely.
Can you blame the Tories for just getting hold of what was required - not at all - unless there was pure corruption, in which case hang 'em high!

 

[eaglesdare]

Covid-19 vaccine: Omagh man wants help after 'life ruined' by jab

Larry Lowe used to have an active life but says everyday tasks are now beyond him.

www.bbc.com

Very sad. These rare cases are far too common.

 

[HKOwen]

"An anti-corruption charity says it has identified significant concerns in contracts worth over £15.3bn awarded by the Conservative government during the Covid pandemic, equivalent to £1 in every £3 spent.

Transparency International UK found 135 “high-risk” contracts with at least three red flags - warning signs of a risk of corruption.

Twenty-eight contracts worth £4.1bn went to firms with known political connections, while 51 worth £4bn went through a "VIP lane" for companies recommended by MPs and peers, a practice the High Court ruled was unlawful.

Transparency International UK analysed 5,000 contracts for red flags.

The charity said its analysis also indicated that almost two thirds of high-value contracts to supply items such as masks and protective medical equipment during the pandemic, adding up to a total of £30.7bn, were awarded without any competition."

Don't worry. All the findings will be vague enough for specific people to swerve blame and criminal charges. And you might wonder why Starmer doesn't have a pot to pl55 in.

Could hardly have been awarded by a Labour government.

Where there is both a good chance of a successful prosecution and the likelihood of recovery of funds it is worth going after corrupt cases.

Seeing corruption and proving it are are very different.

Items that were not to spec or simply not delivered is easier to go after.

The charity should have a look at contracts to manage events in London recently awarded by Sadick Cant to company that gave him freebies