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Billions in public funds have awarded in PPE contracts since the start of the pandemic, often to woefully unfit or politically adjacent entities, and without any official oversight.
Below we take a look back at 20 of the most shocking revelations uncovered since March:
Billions in public funds have awarded in PPE contracts since the start of the pandemic, often to woefully unfit or politically adjacent entities, and without any official oversight.
Below we take a look back at 20 of the most shocking revelations uncovered since March:
1. Ayanda Capital - £252.5 million:
Eye-watering amount of money spent on 50 million FFP2 face masks bought from a "family office" investment firm based in a tax haven. None were usable.
Ayanda also have a senior adviser sitting on the board of trade. https://goodlawproject.org/news/ppe-masks-not-fit-for-purpose/
Eye-watering amount of money spent on 50 million FFP2 face masks bought from a "family office" investment firm based in a tax haven. None were usable.
Ayanda also have a senior adviser sitting on the board of trade. https://goodlawproject.org/news/ppe-masks-not-fit-for-purpose/
2. Meller Designs - £163 Million:
Firm co-owned by Conservative party donor David Meller, who has donated £60,000 to the party since 2009, wins multiple supply contracts.
The Citizens can confirm at least 6 contracts worth £163 million have been issued. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/18/firm-meller-designs-conservative-donor-nets-millions-government-ppe-deals/
Firm co-owned by Conservative party donor David Meller, who has donated £60,000 to the party since 2009, wins multiple supply contracts.
The Citizens can confirm at least 6 contracts worth £163 million have been issued. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/18/firm-meller-designs-conservative-donor-nets-millions-government-ppe-deals/
3. P14 Medical - £276 million:
A company run by a Conservative councillor in Stroud, Steve Dechan, won 3 contracts for the supply of medical gowns, despite the company itself suffering serious financial losses in 2019. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/government-accused-of-cronyism-after-tory-councillor-wins-156m-covid-contract/
A company run by a Conservative councillor in Stroud, Steve Dechan, won 3 contracts for the supply of medical gowns, despite the company itself suffering serious financial losses in 2019. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/government-accused-of-cronyism-after-tory-councillor-wins-156m-covid-contract/
4. Globus Shetland Ltd - £93.8 million:
The firm that donated £400,000 to the Conservative Party since 2016, who's CEO, Haraldur Agustsson is a member of the notorious Tory dining club "The Leaders Group". https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/21/government-ppe-deals-conservatives-364-million/
The firm that donated £400,000 to the Conservative Party since 2016, who's CEO, Haraldur Agustsson is a member of the notorious Tory dining club "The Leaders Group". https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/21/government-ppe-deals-conservatives-364-million/
5. Pestfix - £345.7 million:
A third of a million of public money spent on a acquiring gowns, (faulty) face masks, and gloves from a company with no background in PPE supply and no material assets, with at least 5 further contracts yet to be uncovered. https://goodlawproject.org/news/more-money-to-pestfix/
A third of a million of public money spent on a acquiring gowns, (faulty) face masks, and gloves from a company with no background in PPE supply and no material assets, with at least 5 further contracts yet to be uncovered. https://goodlawproject.org/news/more-money-to-pestfix/
6. Randox - £133 million:
Randox were handed a 133m contract in March to produce testing kits for the UK. Conservative politician Owen Paterson is a paid consultant for the company. Use of the kits was then halted due to safety concerns. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/08/up-to-750000-uk-randox-covid-test-kits-recalled-over-safety-concerns
Randox were handed a 133m contract in March to produce testing kits for the UK. Conservative politician Owen Paterson is a paid consultant for the company. Use of the kits was then halted due to safety concerns. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/08/up-to-750000-uk-randox-covid-test-kits-recalled-over-safety-concerns
7. Serco - £211.8 million:
Heading up the catastrophic test-and-trace system is Serco, issued 4 huge government contracts since the start of the pandemic, the firm are deeply embattled their repeated failures in handling the work. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/15/sack-serco-boris-johnson-addiction-outsourcing/
Heading up the catastrophic test-and-trace system is Serco, issued 4 huge government contracts since the start of the pandemic, the firm are deeply embattled their repeated failures in handling the work. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/15/sack-serco-boris-johnson-addiction-outsourcing/
8. Techniclean - £20 million:
Firm run by members of the evangelical sect The Plymouth Brethren, with links to the Conservative Party, gets £20 million contract to supply face masks, one of 11 Brethren-linked companies found to have been given contracts. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/08/10/companies-linked-to-exclusive-brethren-evangelical-sect-awarded-hundreds-of-millions-of-ppe-government-contracts/
Firm run by members of the evangelical sect The Plymouth Brethren, with links to the Conservative Party, gets £20 million contract to supply face masks, one of 11 Brethren-linked companies found to have been given contracts. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/08/10/companies-linked-to-exclusive-brethren-evangelical-sect-awarded-hundreds-of-millions-of-ppe-government-contracts/
9. Clandeboye Agencies - £108 million:
Another Brethren-linked company via director Nick Walker, of the Brethren-owned One School Trust. Clandeboye Agencies received a massive PPE contract despite primarily selling wholesale confectionery products. https://goodlawproject.org/news/ppe-supplied-by-a-sweet-wholesaler/
Another Brethren-linked company via director Nick Walker, of the Brethren-owned One School Trust. Clandeboye Agencies received a massive PPE contract despite primarily selling wholesale confectionery products. https://goodlawproject.org/news/ppe-supplied-by-a-sweet-wholesaler/
11. Excalibur Healthcare Services - £135.5 million:
A contract handed for the supply of ventilators to a business linked to the Isle of Man, a tax haven. The firm was incorporated on January with only one shareholder, Ectoplasm Limited. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/01/135-million-government-contract-ventilators-offshore-linked-firm/
A contract handed for the supply of ventilators to a business linked to the Isle of Man, a tax haven. The firm was incorporated on January with only one shareholder, Ectoplasm Limited. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/01/135-million-government-contract-ventilators-offshore-linked-firm/
11. Clipper Logistics - £1.3 million:
Another Conservative donor and Leaders Group member who received a high value contract was Steve Parkin, via his firm Clipper Logistics. Parkin has donated more than £500,000 to the Conservative Party. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/21/government-ppe-deals-conservatives-364-million/
Another Conservative donor and Leaders Group member who received a high value contract was Steve Parkin, via his firm Clipper Logistics. Parkin has donated more than £500,000 to the Conservative Party. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/21/government-ppe-deals-conservatives-364-million/
12. Brandology - £70 million:
a large contract issued to a small luxury packaging company with only £46,000 in the bank at the end of 2019. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/08/70-million-government-ppe-contract-small-luxury-packaging-firm/
a large contract issued to a small luxury packaging company with only £46,000 in the bank at the end of 2019. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/08/70-million-government-ppe-contract-small-luxury-packaging-firm/
13. Alpha Solway - £11 million:
Six further PPE contracts issued to Globus Shetland owner Haraldur Agustsson, bringing the total won by his collective firms since the start of the pandemic up to £104 million. https://twitter.com/allthecitizens/status/1319639871129063424?s=20
Six further PPE contracts issued to Globus Shetland owner Haraldur Agustsson, bringing the total won by his collective firms since the start of the pandemic up to £104 million. https://twitter.com/allthecitizens/status/1319639871129063424?s=20
14. Saiger LLC - £148.6 million:
A PPE contract of extraordinary value awarded to fashion accessory brand Saiger LLC, based in Miami. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/23/uk-government-ppe-contracts-miami-fashion-brand/
A PPE contract of extraordinary value awarded to fashion accessory brand Saiger LLC, based in Miami. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/10/23/uk-government-ppe-contracts-miami-fashion-brand/
15. Topham Guerin - £3 million:
NZ based communications startup, who worked for the Conservative Party during the 2019 election, awarded a contract via the cabinet office for handling government digital Coronavirus communications. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/23/how-two-right-wing-meme-merchants-scored-a-3-million-government-coronavirus-contract/
NZ based communications startup, who worked for the Conservative Party during the 2019 election, awarded a contract via the cabinet office for handling government digital Coronavirus communications. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/23/how-two-right-wing-meme-merchants-scored-a-3-million-government-coronavirus-contract/
16. Tower Supplies - £40.6 million:
Yet another Brethren Church-linked company, Tower Supplies, linked via it's director Charlie Aris, receiving yet another large value government contract to supply PPE. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/01/government-spends-364-million-on-coveralls-delivers-just-432000/
Yet another Brethren Church-linked company, Tower Supplies, linked via it's director Charlie Aris, receiving yet another large value government contract to supply PPE. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/01/government-spends-364-million-on-coveralls-delivers-just-432000/
17. Uniserve Ltd - £186 million:
A company awarded a contract who's owner and founder is iain Liddell, a speaker for the pro-Brexit lobby group Prosperity UK, alongside several Tory MPs and members of Right Wing think-tanks. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/who-profits-coronavirus-government-spending-boom_uk_5f0890c0c5b63a72c3413817
A company awarded a contract who's owner and founder is iain Liddell, a speaker for the pro-Brexit lobby group Prosperity UK, alongside several Tory MPs and members of Right Wing think-tanks. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/who-profits-coronavirus-government-spending-boom_uk_5f0890c0c5b63a72c3413817
18. DTC Consulting - £2.5 million:
A contract to supply face masks given to a consultancy, not supply firm, one that was very nearly struck off companies house last year. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/29/another-strange-trio-of-ppe-contracts-emerge/
A contract to supply face masks given to a consultancy, not supply firm, one that was very nearly struck off companies house last year. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/29/another-strange-trio-of-ppe-contracts-emerge/
19. Luxe Lifestyle Ltd - £25 million:
A contract awarded to a fashion design company to supply gowns, when the organisation in question has no assets, employees, or turnover, and little to no evidence of having actually ever traded. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/02/lifestyle-company-with-no-employees-or-trading-history-handed-25-million-ppe-contract/
A contract awarded to a fashion design company to supply gowns, when the organisation in question has no assets, employees, or turnover, and little to no evidence of having actually ever traded. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/02/lifestyle-company-with-no-employees-or-trading-history-handed-25-million-ppe-contract/
20. TAEG Energy - £43.8 million:
Issued without going to competitive tender, £43 million in public money awarded to a dormant company. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/02/government-awards-43-8-million-ppe-deal-to-dormant-firm/
Issued without going to competitive tender, £43 million in public money awarded to a dormant company. https://bylinetimes.com/2020/09/02/government-awards-43-8-million-ppe-deal-to-dormant-firm/
Our friends at @BylineTimes, @GoodLawProject, and @openDemocracy have been diligently uncovering worrying contracts for months.
With new agreements still being issued, the scale of the problem is only truly coming to light now, so join @allthecitizens and help us uncover more:
With new agreements still being issued, the scale of the problem is only truly coming to light now, so join @allthecitizens and help us uncover more:
If reading about these contracts concerned you, and if you want to be a part of the effort to hold our government to account, have a look at our thread to find out how you can get involved in scrutinising the deals our government is making with our money: https://twitter.com/allthecitizens/status/1319601008457154565?s=20
21. 20 contracts outlined, here's just one more:
Public First Ltd - £840,000:
Cabinet Office contract awarded, no legal tender, to a PR firm whose directors are long-standing associates of Gove / Cummings.
Thanks to @GeorgeMonbiot for your crucial work. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/21/government-covid-contracts-britain-nhs-corporate-executives-test-and-trace
Public First Ltd - £840,000:
Cabinet Office contract awarded, no legal tender, to a PR firm whose directors are long-standing associates of Gove / Cummings.
Thanks to @GeorgeMonbiot for your crucial work. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/21/government-covid-contracts-britain-nhs-corporate-executives-test-and-trace
