I am deeply concerned that the Government has been awarding hundreds of millions of pounds worth of coronavirus contracts to its friends and allies. On top of this cronyism, many of these contracts are awarded without a public tender process, and often the equipment being ordered doesn’t even materialise. 

It is never acceptable for a Government to award contracts to its friends and allies without proper scrutiny, but to do so during a pandemic is an even greater misuse of public funds, which puts cronyism above public health. 

The Labour Party has now written to the National Audit Office asking for an investigation into the way contracts have been awarded under the emergency procedures. The Government has welcomed this investigation and I will be interested to read what it finds. 

I can assure you that this is an issue that the Opposition will continue to call out the Government on.