Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Former Minister Defends Controversial VIP Lane During Pandemic Inquiry
A former minister has come forward to discuss the contentious VIP lane created for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Lord Agnew has acknowledged that while fraudulent actors may have benefited from the system, he maintains that the initiative was crucial to address urgent shortages at the time.
During a recent evidence session at the Covid inquiry, Agnew, who served as a Cabinet Office minister responsible for procurement, criticized the inquiry’s focus on the high-priority lane. He expressed that concerns regarding the VIP lane stem from a “misconceived obsession” and dismissed accusations that it was part of a scheme devised by influential figures to gain personal wealth.
In a pointed exchange with Anna Morris KC, legal representative for bereaved families, Agnew insisted, “There was no heinous plan to enrich a few of our mates. It is such bollocks. We were in the most terrible position. There was no doubt one or two crooks and cranks, but they were largely credible, which is borne out in the volume of stuff that they ended up delivering.”
Referencing Conservative peer Michelle Mone, whose ties to a major contract facilitated through the VIP lane are under scrutiny, Agnew stated, “Yes, we got plenty of stuff wrong. Yes, probably some crooks came through the VIP lane. Yes, we’ve got this Baroness Mone woman who perhaps you are going to ask me about.”
While Richard Wald KC, the barrister, clarified that Mone would not be a topic of inquiry during Agnew’s session, Agnew showed relief, commenting, “That’s a relief because the NCA [National Crime Agency] will deal with her.” He argued that in the face of significant uncertainty regarding suppliers, the decision to utilize the VIP lane was justified. “We really had nothing, so if there were credible people out there who could help, then we should go with them,” he added.
Inquiry chair Lady Hallett defended the examination of the VIP lane, asserting that it does not indicate an obsession but instead serves to address public concerns. “The questions are designed just to explore an area of public concern,” she stated.
Agnew acknowledged his pivotal role in establishing the VIP lane, likening it to the actions of Lord Beaverbrook during World War II, where critical decisions contributed to the success of the war effort despite personal flaws. He remarked, “In your world, you wouldn’t have had a rogue like Lord Beaverbrook doing something like that. He was a philanderer, he was a bully, he was an egotist. But if he hadn’t done what he’d done, we would possibly have lost that battle.”
Amid questions about potential bias toward certain suppliers, Agnew was probed regarding his hesitancy to heed advice from Gareth Rhys Williams, the Cabinet Office’s chief commercial officer, who suggested removing Dyson’s company from the government’s ventilator supply scheme. Agnew countered the claim of favoritism, emphasizing the significant investment and research contributed by Dyson, declaring it was not a mistake to keep him engaged until it was clear his solutions would not be viable.
He reflected on the difficulty of informing Dyson that his ventilators were not selected, calling it “the hardest phone call I’ve made in my professional life,” noting that Dyson invested substantial personal funds into the project. “How many other people did that during Covid?” Agnew questioned.
The inquiry into pandemic procurement continues, with the complexities of the VIP lane and procurement strategies remaining at the forefront of discussions.
Source
www.theguardian.com