At least 46 ‘VIP lane’ PPE deals awarded before formal due diligence in place

Two-thirds of contracts awarded before eight-stage process' was put in place were given out after referrals from VIP lane'

At least 46 PPE deals were awarded to firms put in a special VIP lane" by Conservative ministers, MPs and officials during the Covid pandemic before a formal due diligence process was put in place, it has emerged.

Ministers had claimed all PPE contracts were put through a rigorous eight-stage process" for assuring quality and value for money, when criticised over the VIP lane" via which 5bn in contracts were handed to companies with political or Whitehall connections.