The SNP has called on the UK government to release all documentation held in relation to the botched procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), following Baroness Michelle Mone’s interview with the BBC.
Baroness Mone admitted to lying about her and her husband’s involvement in PPE Medpro, a start-up that was awarded £203 million worth of government contracts, and said that she and her family stand to benefit from around £60 million of profit.
Ms Mone went on to say “I can’t see what we’ve done wrong.”
Following her interview, the SNP has urged the UK government to cooperate fully with the investigation by the National Crime Agency, and has asked Douglas Ross to clarify if he communicated with Ms Mone during the pandemic while he was a UK government minister.
Commenting, SNP MP Kirsty Blackman said:
“This morning’s revelations lay bare the chaos that engulfed the UK government at a time of national and international crisis.
“When the priority should have been protecting the public and those who kept our public services running, the Tories were instead enriching their wealthy pals.
“The UK government must make public documentation related to the botched procurement of PPE during the pandemic, and acknowledge that their dodgy deals failed to deliver the necessary equipment at a huge cost to the taxpayer as well as the safety of public sector workers.
“And as a UK government minister during the first months of the pandemic, Douglas Ross should clarify if had any contact with Baroness Mone.
“The more the public learns about the Tories’ handling of the pandemic the more outraged they rightly are, and I urge them, finally, to take responsibility for their botched PPE contracts.”