Civil servants called UK Covid testing scheme ‘unlegit’, court hears

Details of emails released in Good Law Project challenge to awarding of contracts to Abingdon Health for antibody tests

Civil servants described the government's Covid testing programme as unlegit" and no way to do business" in emails revealed in a high court challenge to the awarding of up to 85m in contracts for antibody tests.

The campaigning organisation Good Law Project (GLP) is challenging the health and social care secretary, claiming the contracts with Abingdon Health, a medium-sized UK firm, were unlawful because they were not advertised nor open to competition, and the correct procurement process was bypassed.