Transparency UK chief, Daniel Bruce, has condemned the Conservative government’s controversial VIP lane for awarding Covid-19 contracts, revealing that his organisation could find no equivalent system anywhere else in the world.
A damning new report from the anti-corruption group found red flags in more than £15 billion worth of contracts handed out during the pandemic. Their investigation reviewed over 5,000 contracts across 400 public bodies, identifying 135 high-risk deals that merit further scrutiny, including £4.1 billion in contracts awarded to individuals with known political connections to the Conservative Party.
Bruce, speaking on LBC, underscored the unprecedented nature of the VIP lane, with 51 contracts – 24 of which were referred by Conservative politicians – going through this fast-tracked process, totalling £1.7 billion.
The report also revealed that more than £30.7 billion in high-value contracts were awarded without any competition, raising further concerns about the potential for corruption under the government’s pandemic response.
Bruce highlighted the uniqueness of the UK’s approach, stating his team “couldn’t find another system like it anywhere else in the world.”
You can watch it below:
You may also like: Baroness Charlotte Owen: From Peerage to VP – Why does Boris Johnson keep promoting her?
