Julia Lopez told MPs that alongside an external review which is to be conducted by the National Audit Office into “procurements during the pandemic”, the Government will also carry out its own inspection. Ms Lopez said ministers are taking the step as they wish to be satisfied that claims from Opposition MPs that Covid-19 contracts were awarded to “Tory chums and donors” have “no basis”. The Government was pressed on the lack of transparency regarding contracts it had given out to private companies during the pandemic during Cabinet Office questions. “Will the minister hold an independent inquiry and if not, why?”Fellow Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi added: “All aboard the Covid Tory gravy train. No wonder from across our country there are accusations of corruption and cronyism with contracts handed down to Tory firms that have links to Tory chums and donors.

Source: Daily Mirror November 12, 2020 15:26 UTC