Baroness Michelle Mone has criticized Chancellor Rachel Reeves for using language that she perceives as “dangerous and inflammatory.” This comes after a court ordered PPE Medpro, a company linked to Mone and her husband, to pay £122 million for violations related to a Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) contract. During a recent Labour Party conference fringe event, Reeves reportedly suggested that the government had a vendetta against Mone.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mone expressed concern that Reeves’ remarks could jeopardize her personal safety. She stated that since the comments were made, she has encountered threats and abuse on social media. On Wednesday, a judge determined that PPE Medpro’s gowns did not meet government standards.
PPE Medpro was established by a consortium including Mone’s husband, Doug Barrowman, and received a government contract for PPE based on Mone’s recommendation. The court ruling has led to calls from various political parties for her to be stripped of her peerage, a process that requires action by Parliament.
In her correspondence, Mone requested an “urgent, independent investigation” into whether government officials influenced the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding her case. She also called for the Chancellor to retract her statement referring to a vendetta, asserting that the term suggests “vengeance, feud, and blood feud.” Mone indicated that Reeves’ words have made her and her family feel unsafe and highlighted the serious consequences of inflammatory language in the political context.
Citing previous political violence, Mone stressed the urgency for protection and action, stating that if no steps are taken, she would consider pursuing legal action for defamation and harassment. Mone was appointed to her peerage in 2015 but lost the Conservative whip following the controversy surrounding the supply contract. The High Court’s ruling indicated that PPE Medpro had not demonstrated that its surgical gowns were properly sterilized. The company is required to pay the ordered damages by October 15.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9y5nkxpzlo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss