UK government accused of chumocracy in handing out virus contracts
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07/07/2021 - 05:11 Questions have been asked not just about Hancock s affair but the contracts he has awarded JESSICA TAYLOR UK PARLIAMENT/AFP/File 4 min
London (AFP)
Britain s government is facing growing criticism over how it awarded contracts for virus-related goods and services during the pandemic, its detractors alleging a chumocracy in which politically connected companies got priority. I think in comparison to Britain 10 years ago, there s a level of corruption that we haven t reached before, said Emily Barritt, a lecturer in law at King s College London.
The latest revelation came in late June when Health Secretary Matt Hancock resigned after it emerged he was having an affair with a university friend he had appointed as an aide, Gina Colodangelo.
Labour calls for release of documents over Gina Coladangelo s appointment eveningtelegraph.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eveningtelegraph.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
three-year transparency battle against Michael Gove’s department.
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Analysis carried out by openDemocracy has found that Coladangelo is one of at least 16 individuals with close ties to the Conservative Party to have been appointed as a non-executive director in Whitehall.
Labour’s shadow cabinet minister Angela Rayner accused ministers of “using every opportunity they can to do favours for their chums”, while transparency campaigners warned that the current system of non-executive director appointments “risks allowing political capture of whole government departments”.
Angela Rayner accused ministers of ‘using every opportunity they can to do favours for their chums’
Hancock and Coladengelo: questions that need answers theguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.