More than 65,000 individuals have signed a petition demanding the removal of Michelle Mone’s peerage and expulsion from the House of Lords. Advocates for bereaved families expressed outrage at Baroness Mone’s continued presence in Parliament, labeling it as disrespectful to those who lost loved ones during the pandemic. The group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK criticized her involvement in Parliament, stating that it dishonors the memory of the deceased and highlights the lack of accountability for actions that led to loss of life.
The Scottish entrepreneur, known for her lingerie business, is facing mounting scrutiny for her association with PPE Medpro, a company embroiled in controversy for supplying faulty goods and being instructed to repay over £122 million to the UK Government. A recent High Court ruling found that the firm breached its contract with the Department of Health and Social Care by delivering substandard surgical gowns.
In response to criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Baroness Mone vehemently declared her disinterest in returning to the House of Lords as a Conservative peer. Despite being appointed by former Prime Minister David Cameron, she voluntarily took a leave of absence from the Lords in 2022 and subsequently lost the Conservative whip. While the process to revoke her peerage would require an act of Parliament, she could opt to resign from her position in the Lords, specifying that she has no intention of rejoining as a Conservative member.
Baroness Mone refuted allegations of misconduct, asserting that her involvement in providing PPE was on par with other Conservative MPs and peers. She criticized the inflammatory language used against her by party members and dismissed claims of financial gain from PPE Medpro. The Conservative party confirmed that she would not regain the party whip if she were to resume her role in the Lords, emphasizing the party’s commitment to upholding high standards among parliamentarians.
Addressing accusations of government bias, Baroness Mone penned a letter to Keir Starmer, condemning what she perceived as a targeted campaign against her. Revelations linking her and her husband, Doug Barrowman, to profits from PPE Medpro raised further questions about their involvement with the company. The couple admitted to misleading the press about their connection to the firm established by a consortium led by Mr. Barrowman. Despite denying any wrongdoing, they criticized the judicial outcome and expressed skepticism over the fairness of the ruling.