The Baffling Backstory Behind Michelle Mone's PPE Scandal 

When she said “ lying isn’t a crime!” That just about summed up the attitude of the wealthy! A moral vacuum

Yes we did manufacure PPE in the UK . These established companies that already supplied the NHS approached the governent to say they were ready and able to ramp up production but were ignored in favour of crooks like Mone. Instead they had to supply other, equally desperate, countries.

We DID and do manufacture PPE in this country! The companies offered to prioritise GB stuff but they couldn't get anyone in the govt to take them up on it!! I heard a British factory owner on James OBrien raging about it.

Michelle Mone was guest speaker at a black tie event I attended a couple of years before she was ennobled. Even then she gave the distinct impression that her humble background automatically qualified her to expect wealth and privilege as if to redress the injustices she suffered in her early life. If she mentioned David Cameron once in her address she mentioned his name a dozen times and how he would get her into events as his guest. If illegality can be proven in relation to PPE activities then no doubt the courts will become involved however the single most offensive element to my mind is the fact that she might one day return to the upper house to sit in judgment over the legislation put forward by MPs duly elected by the general public.

Im so tired of privileged, wealthy, powerful people stuffing their own personal bank accounts full of taxpayer money whilst paying no tax themselves.

Do not pass GO. Pay £122m back. Go to Jail.

Rory and Alistair, I just want to say how grateful I am for this podcast and please continue the good work. Like a lot of people, I feel I don't have time to read the news as extensively as I should, and you guys are doing a superb job of keeping me in the loop and inspiring me to be a more curious, politically engaged person. I like how you provide explanations for those of us who haven't much background on certain topics, but also have really high level discussions.

These podcasts should be on a loop and broadcast on main stream media. I could listen to all day long, fascinating and informative, thank you

Completely corrupt crook, a repeated liar and not too bright. Deserves prison. Hubby too.

I love these podcasts but never sure whether Rory is to an extent running cover for the Tories. As I understand it Mone was pushing a company that didn't exist initially and whilst there were worldwide shortages of PPE, there were NHS approved UK suppliers that the govt refused to use in favour of much slower and massively expensive PPE from Tories. The PPE delays will have caused deaths. This shouldn't be glossed over.

One point to note is that there are a good number of PPE companies in the UK, they reported at the time that they were getting orders coming in from abroad, but were not getting orders from the UK Government.

Led By Donkeys - brilliant work on Michelle Mone

If her and her husband are found to be "at it", they need to go to jail while us taxpayers try and get our money back

Is Rory correct saying there were no uk manufacturers ? I can recall manufacturers I thought were Uk based ringing into James O'Briens lbc show saying they previously supplied the NHS but were now supplying the rest of the world because the tories ignored them in order to give orders to their vip lane mates.

I'm a first time listener and very impressed by the quality of the analysis. Thank you gentlemen, subscribe button pushed.

Brilliant podcast guys ... your experience, historical and political insights are awesome - thank you 👏

The barreness of Mone's conscience is staggering

Just want to say that your podcast is such a breath of fresh air in reportage and news discussion. The ‘sound bite’ element of regular news is so frustrating and almost always gives a biased or wrong impression on the topic. Thank you both for your time on these items.

Imagine Alastair Campbell calling out someone for lying to the press :/

This was a pleasure to listen to. Well informed and insightful. Thank you.

The attack on Starmer for defending unsavory characters at trial is unconscionable. Here in the US John Adams defended the British troops involved in the Boston Massacre of 1770, on the principle that in a decent world everyone is entitled to a vigorous defense. (Also I think this comment highlights most of the differences between US and British spelling 😂)

That was a top class discussion. Very illuminating. Thank you.

In WW2 Lord Nuffield moved his car factory from car production to aeroplane production. Did the govt imagine that this is what Baroness Mone was doing?? If so their time in Oxford was wasted.

fascinating listening to the immense knowledge and experience of this pair. fantastic stuff.

Call to arms of the Lords and Baroness, sounds like the War of the Roses. Apparently the actual PPE companies could not get near the government even after repeated requests.

At this point we only have Barrowman’s word that the profit was £60mn. That may or may not be true and even if it’s the case may include many extravagant corporate expenses, legal fees and significant director salaries. The true profit margin maybe much higher.

The level of ministerial corruption/incompetence is astounding. While Mone should be held accountable, she will not be made an escape goat!

Can someone tell me how full payment for the contract was made given the gowns were sub standard and rejected. This wouldn't have happened in the private sector. Who passed the payment? Obviously the blame for that lays with the health minister. Isn't this were the police should be be investigating given the payment must come under " corruption in public office " legislation, especially when the husband is a tory donor and MONE is a Tory peer. As for the government doing its own investigation, just another case of marking your own homework.

It turns out, surprise surprise that Mone and husband had employed a private investigator who was also behind their recent video and set up the BBC interview. An ex-copper, he has been advising them (not too well) for some time. If and hopefully when it goes to court they could face perjury charges if they persisted with their original false story. Hence the recent admissions.

Fantastic interview

You guys are just brilliant, it's just fascinating to listen to, such an education. Thank you.

Great podcast. Thanks to both of you. (And the people behind the scenes) TTFN

Cameron fancied the scrubber as per Rebekah Brooks. Looks carried it off.

And that right there is why Cameron should not be back in politics!!! They are all in the same money boat. All out for what they can get for themselves! And they will lie lie and lie to get what they want!!! This country needs a bloody good shake up from top to bottom!!!

She was 'honoured' for services to the 'Better together 'campaign in Scotland prior to the Scottish independence vote

Very entertaining. Thank you gentlemen.

I love this vlog. There’s always something new to learn (e.g. Nagorno-Karabakh situation and Serbia). Thank you both 😊

its a pity rory stuart didn't become prime minister.

The irony of Campbell saying Mone' husband was utterly shameless! 🤣

This is absolutely brilliant

Thank you for intelligent, insightful conversation here. Are there WEF connections to consider? The overall management of procurement contracts and useless PPE being stored because of over ordering or other reasons, should be carefully scrutinised. Is someone being thrown under the bus so investigation into wider misappropriation of public funds can be avoided. It doesn't seem like pure incompetence, when UK suppliers didn't get contracts, more opportunists maximising profit potential. Should others appointed by DC be subject to scrutiny? From the reporting here, it appears a person not fit for high office was appointed. We need to question why? They say 'nothing in politics happens by chance'....

Nobody want to name this as profiteering !!

Yet another very informative podcast 👍😊

Hi from Rome ! Great conversation there, it's a shame to see the bright minds are not into government but are left to discuss the damage being done. I have shared your video. 💪🏻

Most people believe innately they should follow the intent of the law, and they're called good citizens. Some people believe that they should only follow the letter of the law, and we tend to call them dodgy. A few people believe that they should only worry about the law when it'll actually have notably punitive consequences when they break it, and we call those privileged public school graduates and Tory party associates. Never let these people convince you they're hard done by - it just helps them keep the image they have of you that you're a sucker they can take for every penny.

Tax wealth, not incomes, excess profits & banker bonuses, etc, etc. Investigate tax evasion & redistribute the proceeds to boost our public services & infrastructure.

@Rory. Mone also married well, her first husband Michael a wealthy stockbroker stepped in when Ultimo became insolvent. Michael's wealthy friends Grabiner (CEO of Philip Green's Arcadia/ Top Shop) and Hunter (billionaire retailer) took control of the company. They got the Ultimo bra into their shops and the firm made a small profit on it's £10m annual turnover for a few years before they sold their shares back to the Mones. Michael sold his shares to Ultimo's overseas supplier in Sri Lanka and left Michelle for their designer. The firm became loss making again and finally Michelle's minority shareholding shares were swapped in a debt for equity deal with their Asian supplier leaving MIchelle broke. All other business ventures she tried were also failures.

I can’t believe I only just discovered your broadcast. Fantastic. Thank you.

Cameron now back in government, the cause of Brexit & connected with Mone, his judgement makes me wonder!

Thank you - so, so good

The comeback of Cameron is a nightmare come true. It in not fair to use a person in the Lords unelected to use as a foreign secretary. It shows the corruption of the system.

Brilliant stuff, keep it up, please 🙏

She supported the Union and openly was against Independence. She once said if Scotland becomes Independent she would move to England. With several TV appearances advocating "better together " and this may well be one of the major reasons She received a seat in the house of Lords shortly after the vote.

"David Cameron a great statesman" Best laugh I have heard for weeks.

Solid podcast. Great work.

Brilliant podcast! It really makes me think in a different perspective, , which is a great mental exercise, even if I don't always agree with it! The best bit of this series is the "humour" used on discussing very important stuff- guaranteed laugh 😂 ! Thank you guys, for enriching my day and help me expande my English lexico with a touch of humour!

Her titled stripped, money taken off them, jailed. 😊🏴‍☠️🎈

Have you heard of Impress? It is the section 40 compliant regulator that regulates 200 titles in the UK. It protects both publishers and the public from crippling costs in accessing justice and finding resolutions for media complaints. It would be great to discuss it and use it as an example of how section 40 can work.

Well done David! You must remember whilst they are having ago at her, no doubt it is to take our minds of something more sinister going on!! That's our politics....

An unlikely 'Tour de Force' Messrs Campbell/Stewart but certainly an accomplished Tell It How It is 'go too' NEWS FEED. Well done chaps; you're on the Dime every time! ROB

Always very interesting and informative.

Love Campbell laughing at Mone , she’s a sham a busted flush but I remember poor Dr Kelly

I wish all politicians were like Alistair and Rory honest sincere and explain everything keep up the good work guys

@2.15 While giving us some of the lows and debatable highs of Ms Mone's remarkable life, Rory Stewart manages to provide both information and entertainment in equal measure. The best that can be said of her is that she has certainly "managed to make something of herself."

Don’t forget Dido Harding track and trace .! aye try track and trace it.!

She was made a Baroness as reward for her "services" to the Better Together campaign during the Scottish independence referendum campaigns.

It seems blindingly obvious that the real movers and shakers who will profit need ‘front men’ and ‘fall guys.’ They reward the person who takes the flak and slink back into the shadows regardless of the result.

If the investigation find evidence of fraud and corruption then the book should be thrown at her and her husband. But I can't help thinking that the government doesn't mind the amount of noise against this one PPE supplying company as it diverts attention. According to them (and it should be checked) the costs of the products that PPE Medpro supplied were significantly cheaper than the average the government paid. By definition then other companies were charging far more than average - why aren't we looking at those companies to see if any excess profiteering took place or if the procurement processes were poor enough to let it happen. This feels like a magician distracting attention whilst the real action is elsewhere.

Re Michelle Mone, I just don't understand having that extent of wealth and doing these incredibly dodgy deals with the potential to damage your reputation just to make more money on top of the mountain of money you already have? Can anyone explain the psychology behind this?

There is nothing wrong with making profit. There has to be a financial incentive for people to do business with the government and supply what they need. However a 30% markup is a ridiculous failure in negotiation by the government. The procurement and tendering process also needs absolute reform. So we don’t get this friends first vip lane nonsense that incentives this corrupt behaviour. But actually get the best value for the British people.

Thank you, a very interesting talk.

Superb analysis

I think an investigation should immediately start to investigate if and how much money changed hands for Mone’s peerage and if Cameron benefited.

Mone did not have a hard upbringing, she was no different from anyone during that period.

Rory not winning conservative leadership in 2019 is an historical travesty for the UK. He would have been such a great PM. Instead we got BoJo.

It makes me cringe how easy both presenters just so limply mention that Mone & Co. may be punished for their “legalised theft”! This fraud must be punished now! The criminal investigation into it has been running for more than 2 years now!

Love this podcast!

Love Rory, we need more people like him. If I’m not wrong didn’t he used to be in politics?.

Thanks guys fascinating

Yes, she's done well for herself, but that doesn't excuse lying.

Its reasonably ok for business people to be dodgy and a bit untruthful BUT when you are in the House of Lords, and you try to hide the fact that you have used connections to get a massive contract that your husband has control of BUT, does absolutely everything possible to erase ties to the company to hoodwink the Lords standard committee into believing she would in no way benefit. Sadly, this has set back 'commoners' getting into the Lords for years ans shes common alright !

Rory I would like to inform you we do manufacture PPE in the UK that is a fact.

Great show

"The rules don't apply to them" But why would you not think that when you had Johnson in No10 pursuing that as a principal.

Discussing someone 'lying' with a character who spun the content official government reports to take us into a war. I agree that Barrowman and Mone even getting involved in supplying PPE at a profit is disgusting, basically just placing an internet order and bagging £80 million. However AC debating 'lying' after what he and Blair 'sold' to the nation on Iraq ( do your own research ) is really a bit rich . AC has a very short memory.

Can somebody tell me what made the gowns substandard? and more importantly what standard was asked for in the contract? surely the answer to this question is fundamental to finding out where the blame lies...the supplier or the Gov?

She was "elevated" to the lords by Cameron because she spoke out against Scvottish Independence..... it was widely seen in Scotland as her "reward".

There was also a documentary done by mark Williams Thomas on them. As well as this they have questions to answer

Great discussion particularly at the end re: Eastern Europe/Balkans. Not for the first time, Eastern Europe is plunging the whole continent towards war. We are in recidivist,ultra-nationalist times particularly in Eastern Europe, a place where borders have almost no real meaning given the way the way they were redrawn after 2 World Wars and with regard to who has found themselves living where.The idea of the EU was to make that much less of an issue, esp in Eastern Europe, but that fabric is being tugged at like never before. I have zero doubt that Orban has his eyes on Zakarpattia (in Ukraine) and in an ideal World would love to claw back Hungarian Transylvania too (in neighbouring Romania where millions of ethnic Hungarians are). As Eastern Europe stares down the barrel of severe demographic decline and worry more and more that they'll cease to be viable nations before terribly long, those of their ethnicity who live in neighbouring countries will be seen as increasingly vital to maintaining their populations at home ( I believe this has played no small part in Russia's attempt to absorb eastern parts of Ukraine with sizeable ethnic Russian populations). Serbia has an even worse birth rate than Hungary and, like Hungary, there are plenty of ethnic Serbs living in the border regions of neighbouring countries. You can see what their drastic thinking might be. Serbia lost 1/3rd of its *entire* male population in WW1,it's not averse to plunging itself into utterly destructive wars. Clearly, if Trump were to win next year and, as seems quite possible, he pulls the US out of NATO then if war breaks out in the Balkans (as it has done so many times in history) it seems very unlikely that the US will involve itself therefore unless the Western European powers take on that role with no USA, war could rage unabated, with tons of fuel thrown on that fire by Putinist Russia. The security of Europe is under threat like at no time since the collapse of the USSR/Warsaw Pact, possibly even before then because NATO vs Warsaw Pact was effectively a stalemate situation across Europe, neither side was likely to invade the other given the huge nuclear arsenals involved. Some might suggest it was bad during the Yugoslav break-up wars but ultimately no territory outside the old Yugoslavia was under threat or came under any attack.

Thanks for posting

There are company's in Britain that manufacturer ppe the torys just didn't use them. Please get your facts right Rory

Cameron’s judgement has always been poor. Why Sunak brought him back is very odd.

"never mind stop the boats, stop this boat" lol!

Thank you. Happy new year. FanTanstic.

Regarding Mone: You may have forgotten, with respect, that the reason Cameron put her into the House of Lords (along with many similar examples) appeared to be their dubious contributions to the ‘better together’ campaign during the Scottish independence referendum, where she was a very loud and constant media voice stating unequivocally she would have no choice but to relocate all of her business interests to England in the event of Scotland voting for independence. There were many examples of the same thing resulting in individuals being elevated to the House of Lords (even when their statements were shown to be ‘less than truthful’).

They never get prosecuted for anything

Anyone who has viewed the fly on the wall documentary made about the early days of her bra company would surely have formed not very flattering opinion of her character.

Michelle Moane ,Robert Maxwell,Philip Green,etc,etc, MP's expenses ??????

Thanks

WELL WELL who would have thought that?