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This government’s procurement is an ugly mark on its pandemic response.
We’ve seen millions wasted on unusable PPE, a national Serco tracing system not reaching contacts it should, and a growing catalogue of cronyism.
But what's happened this week is a new low.
THREAD
We’ve seen millions wasted on unusable PPE, a national Serco tracing system not reaching contacts it should, and a growing catalogue of cronyism.
But what's happened this week is a new low.
THREAD
This government outsourcing #FreeSchoolMeals leaves families with shocking replacements for normal vouchers. These photos are a disgrace.
But while they seem adamant to not feed hungry children, let's remind ourselves of contracts they have splashed on in recent months...
But while they seem adamant to not feed hungry children, let's remind ourselves of contracts they have splashed on in recent months...
In April, the Tories gave £250 million to Ayanda Capital for 50 million face masks - which were later found to be unsafe for NHS workers.
Labour highlighted this as one of the early examples of cronyism given links to the Tory party. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/fifty-million-face-masks-bought-government-cannot-be-used-nhs
Labour highlighted this as one of the early examples of cronyism given links to the Tory party. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/fifty-million-face-masks-bought-government-cannot-be-used-nhs
Matt Hancock has approved nearly £500 million in contracts to Randox - which employs a Tory MP as a consultant - including for 750,000 Covid testing kits which didn't work. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/04/tory-linked-firm-involved-in-testing-failure-awarded-new-347m-covid-contract
None will forget fast the contract awarded to his local pub landlord with no prior experience in medical supplies, all after a WhatsApp exchange.
Qualified and experienced British businesses from across the country have expressed their outrage at this. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/26/matt-hancock-former-neighbour-won-covid-test-kit-contract-after-whatsapp-message
Qualified and experienced British businesses from across the country have expressed their outrage at this. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/26/matt-hancock-former-neighbour-won-covid-test-kit-contract-after-whatsapp-message
Let's not forget the consultants paid £7,000 per day to run the Government's Test and Trace system - which still isn't anywhere near effective enough, with health professionals this week expressing more concern on its ability to curb spread. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-test-and-trace-consultants-paid-equivalent-of-1-5m-salary-12104028
In fact, this Tory government has spent just over £163,000 per consultant on Test and Trace - £375 million of taxpayer money.
Shamefully, stories like those in this thread led to a @NYTimes investigation into British crony contracts. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/17/world/europe/britain-covid-contracts.html
Shamefully, stories like those in this thread led to a @NYTimes investigation into British crony contracts. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/17/world/europe/britain-covid-contracts.html
Labour's figures as far back as October revealed the Government handed over more than £1 BILLION to their friends and donors since March.
For far too many of these, transparency is severely lacking, so we're not always sure what they deliver https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/fury-over-1billion-coronavirus-deals-22885550
For far too many of these, transparency is severely lacking, so we're not always sure what they deliver https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/fury-over-1billion-coronavirus-deals-22885550
All of this and more is why I called for the National Audit Office report.
This only confirmed the use of a VIP lane for contracts, but also gave clear recommendations for government to clean up its contracting.
We are yet to see an improvement. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/covid-contracts-fast-tracked-rules-nao-b1724458.html
This only confirmed the use of a VIP lane for contracts, but also gave clear recommendations for government to clean up its contracting.
We are yet to see an improvement. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/covid-contracts-fast-tracked-rules-nao-b1724458.html
With the Tories spending so much on contracts that don't deliver - how on Earth can they justify THIS as adequate to feed hungry families during lockdown?
This once again, exposes how this Tory Government's overreliance on outsourcing lets people down. Damning.
This once again, exposes how this Tory Government's overreliance on outsourcing lets people down. Damning.
