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 over Baroness Mone’s continued presence in Parliament, labeling it as a disrespect to those who lost loved ones during the pandemic. The group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK criticized her role, citing it as an insult to the memory of the deceased and a symbol of the lack of accountability for actions that led to loss of lives.
The Scottish lingerie mogul faces mounting scrutiny over her association with scandal-plagued PPE Medpro, a company directed to repay over £122 million to the UK Government due to faulty equipment supply. A recent High Court ruling found PPE Medpro in breach of contract with the Department of Health and Social Care for providing 25 million substandard surgical gowns.
Responding to criticism, Baroness Mone stated that she has no intention of resuming her position as a Conservative peer in the House of Lords in a strongly worded letter to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. Initially appointed a Tory peer by David Cameron, Baroness Mone took a leave of absence in 2022 and subsequently lost the Conservative whip.
While an act of Parliament is necessary to revoke her peerage, Baroness Mone could opt to resign from her membership in the Lords. She clarified that her return as a Conservative peer is unlikely, emphasizing the uncertain future of the Conservative Party before the next general election.
In her communication with Ms. Badenoch, Baroness Mone criticized the use of “inflammatory language” against her, highlighting her role in PPE provision akin to other Conservative MPs and peers. She challenged any allegations of misconduct, asserting that she never received financial benefits from PPE Medpro.
The Conservative Party affirmed that Baroness Mone would not regain the Conservative whip if she re-enters the Lords, stressing their commitment to upholding high standards among parliamentarians. Baroness Mone also addressed Keir Starmer’s involvement in the matter, denouncing what she perceives as a targeted campaign against her.
Despite denying involvement with PPE Medpro to the Mirror initially, it emerged that both Baroness Mone and her husband, Doug Barrowman, profited significantly from the company. The couple referred PPE Medpro to government officials through the VIP lane during the early stages of the pandemic. Following revelations in 2023, they admitted to misleading the press about their ties to the company, prompting backlash from critics.
Baroness Mone condemned the recent judgment as biased in favor of the government, while Mr. Barrowman criticized the ruling as predetermined and unjust towards the Department of Health and Social Care and the government.