NHS contract handed to Matt Hancock’s sister.
The UK Tory government continues to “reek of corruption and cronyism” following reports that an NHS contract was handed to a company owned by Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s sister – a company he himself has a stake in.
A report from the Health Service Journal found that Mr Hancock (Pictured) holds at least a 15% share in the company ‘Topwood Limited’, who won two NHS Wales contracts worth £150,000.
The report also found that they had been in line for health contracts in England – securing a place on the NHS Shared Business Services framework for “confidential waste destruction and disposal” – just months after the Health Secretary took up the role.
However, there is no current suggestion that Mr Hancock signed the contract.
The news comes after former Prime Minister, David Cameron, was found to have lobbied the Chancellor and Health Secretary – as well as senior Government officials – to try and secure access for Greensill Capital to taxpayer funded COVID loan schemes.
Commenting, the SNP’s Deputy Westminster leader Kirsten Oswald MP said:
“Another day and another scandal at the heart of this Tory UK government.
“The stench of corruption and cronyism is unavoidable.
“First it was Greensill, then it was COVID contracts handed out to Tory donors, then it was the intervention from Boris Johnson at bin Salman’s request.
“Now we have the Health Secretary, yet again, handing out contracts like sweeties to friends – this time an NHS contract to his sister.
“The lack of transparency from the Health Secretary about his connections to Topwood Limited has rightfully left many questioning the legitimacy of the deal.
“We know that Tory cronyism is rife within Westminster therefore we demand clarity on this issue as a matter of urgency.
“It’s clear that Scotland faces a choice of two futures – Tory cronyism under the broken Westminster system, or the opportunity to build a fairer future as an independent country in a post-pandemic referendum.
“The issue at the election will be this: who has the right to decide Scotland’s future after the pandemic – people in Scotland or Boris Johnson?
“Only both votes SNP on 6 May can put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.”
