PPE Firm Linked to Michelle Mone Faces £134 Million Lawsuit

The protective equipment company, **PPE Medpro Limited**, linked to **Michelle Mone**, is embroiled in a significant legal battle. The UK Government is suing the firm for **£134 million**, yet recent financial reports reveal that it currently has only **£666,000** in assets. The situation raises concerns about the potential recovery of taxpayer funds should the Government win its claim regarding allegedly unusable personal protective equipment (PPE).

Recent accounts for PPE Medpro indicate that the company has expended approximately **£4.3 million** defending itself against the High Court claim. This financial strain significantly heightens the likelihood that even if the Government secures a victory, little to no funds will be recovered for public coffers. The firm was established in May 2020 by close associates of Baroness Mone and her husband, **Doug Barrowman**, and quickly secured over **£200 million** in Covid-related contracts via the Government’s VIP procurement lane.

Mone initially distanced herself from the company, asserting she had no involvement in the contracts. However, it later emerged that she and Barrowman profited by **£65 million** from PPE Medpro. The couple is linked to assets exceeding **£100 million**, including properties across the globe, a private jet, and a superyacht. Some of these assets have been frozen as part of ongoing investigations, while others have been sold or are currently on the market.

The UK Department of Health initiated legal proceedings in 2022, alleging that **25 million gowns** supplied by PPE Medpro were unsuitable for NHS use due to contamination issues. In July, during four weeks of court hearings, the company contended that any contamination must have occurred during transit and accused the department of “buyer’s remorse” following the procurement of a decade’s worth of stock.

The financial documents for PPE Medpro, covering the twelve months ending July 31, 2023, show the company held **£541,000** in investments and was owed **£1.2 million**. After accounting for debts totaling **£1.1 million**, the net assets amounted to a mere **£666,025**, a decline from **£2.1 million** the previous year. The accounts acknowledge the Department of Health’s claim for **£133,577,920.20** plus interest, asserting that the company disputes the allegations and believes it possesses a strong defense based on legal counsel.

Behind PPE Medpro stands a consortium led by Barrowman, although neither Mone nor Barrowman provided evidence during the trial. The company’s rapid rise began with two substantial contracts awarded by the end of June 2020, following lobbying efforts by Mone.

In December 2023, Mone publicly acknowledged her earlier denials about her involvement with PPE Medpro, expressing regret over misleading the press. She admitted, “I made an error in what I said to the press. I regret not saying to the press straight away, ‘Yes, I am involved. And the Government knew I was involved.’”

While the face masks procured for nearly **£81 million** have not raised concerns, the **£122 million** worth of gowns were rejected in December 2020. The **National Crime Agency** has launched a fraud investigation into the contracts, leading to interviews under caution for Mone and Barrowman. Their residences in London and the Isle of Man were raided by detectives in April 2022. They face allegations of conspiracy to defraud, fraud by false representation, and bribery, all of which they deny.

Mone is currently on a leave of absence from the **House of Lords**, where she is addressing the allegations against her. Additionally, she is under investigation by the **Lords Commissioner for Standards** for potentially breaching conduct rules by failing to register her interest in PPE Medpro and lobbying for government contracts.

Emails leaked to the Guardian reveal Mone informed the Government she was not entitled to any financial benefit from the **£200 million** in VIP lane PPE deals. Shortly after, **£65 million** in profits from PPE Medpro were transferred to trusts and accounts linked to Barrowman, including **£29 million** reportedly allocated to a trust for Mone and her children.

A spokesperson for the couple stated that the emails were misrepresented and reiterated their denial of any wrongdoing. Mone, known for founding the Ultimo underwear brand, was elevated to peerage in 2015 and married Barrowman in 2020. Currently, around **£75 million** in assets associated with the couple are frozen or restrained by court order. This includes a **£19 million** townhouse in Belgravia, a country estate in the Isle of Man, and nine properties in Glasgow, among others.

The couple’s luxury assets, such as a **£7 million** yacht and **£7.5 million** private jet, have also been put on the market. The ongoing legal challenges and investigations into Mone and Barrowman continue to unfold, underscoring the complexities surrounding the procurement of PPE during the pandemic and the subsequent fallout.