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"The essence of social mobility is that where you come from should not determine where you get to," says the Chief Commercial Officer for the Departme...

Health department had denied Covid testing priority lane but new disclosure lists firms including lab behind false negatives

Exclusive: Emails appear to contradict DHSC denials that it offered fast-track process for firms with political connections Matt Hancock leading a press briefing during his time as health secretary. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Matt Hancock leading a press briefing during his time as health secretary. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Thu 15 Jul 2021 01.00 EDT The government gave “VIP treatment” to a firm offering Covid testing facilities which had entered the system “...

Firms with political connections had their bids to provide Covid tests designated as ‘fast track’, a leaked email has revealed. A so-called VIP priority lane for personal protective equipment operated in the early stages of the pandemic – but the email suggests there was also one for the £37billion test and trace scheme. It also shows that an official running the priority lane used a private email address – which is hugely contentious because it means vital correspondence could be with...

Clandeboye Agencies Awarded £180m PPE contracts after its application was supported by the director of NHS Wales Yesterday, Michael Bowsher QC, who represented Hancock, disputed the Good Law Project’s claims about information disclosure in the contracts which are reported to be collectively worth £650m. He said the Good Law Project wanted to “expand” the scope of a disclosure exercise and “fish”. Justice O’Farrell made no criticism of Hancock when ruling on information di...

Last modified on Thu 29 Apr 2021 16.31 EDT The Cabinet Office minister Lord Agnew, the health minister Lord Bethell and one of Matt Hancock’s most senior officials were among the “main routes” through which well-connected people were referred to a “VIP” channel to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, a court has heard. In internal emails revealed as part of a legal challenge brought by the Good Law Project (GLP), civil servan...

Last modified on Thu 22 Apr 2021 16.39 EDT Civil servants found themselves “drowning” in bids for Covid contracts that failed to meet due diligence standards after the government created a “VIP lane” for politically connected suppliers, a court has been told. Evidence disclosed as a result of a legal action brought against the government by the Good Law Project suggests the controversial scheme resulted in a deluge of non-credible offers to supply personal protective equipme...