A demand has emerged from Covid bereaved families requesting the removal of Michelle Mone’s OBE due to her association with a scandal-ridden company that failed to repay millions in relation to faulty PPE. The group, representing 7,000 families, expressed disappointment that the Scottish lingerie tycoon retained the honor despite the firm’s actions, which they believe contributed to the deaths of some individuals who lacked suitable PPE.
In a letter to the Honours Forfeiture Committee, the families urged the consideration of revoking Baroness Mone’s OBE, which she received in 2010 for her contributions to the lingerie industry. A spokesperson for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group emphasized the significance of addressing the situation, stating, “Our loved ones perished without adequate PPE. It is unacceptable for someone linked to this controversy to maintain an OBE.”
The group emphasized the government’s responsibility to act decisively and ensure the removal of this honor, emphasizing that anything less would be a disrespect to the deceased and their grieving families. Additionally, over 280,000 individuals have supported a petition led by the 38 Degrees campaign group advocating for Baroness Mone’s expulsion from the House of Lords. Although Baroness Mone was appointed as a Tory peer by David Cameron, she voluntarily took leave from the Lords in 2022, relinquishing her parliamentary privileges.
The calls for action come in the wake of PPE Medpro, a consortium led by Baroness Mone’s husband Doug Barrowman, failing to meet a payment deadline of £122 million following a breach of a Covid contract. The company faced legal action from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) after supplying 25 million substandard gowns during the pandemic.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed determination to pursue PPE Medpro for the outstanding funds, criticizing the company for providing inadequate equipment during a national crisis. Despite the consortium’s willingness to engage in discussions with the government to resolve the issue, Streeting underscored the importance of recovering the owed funds, which now exceed £145 million with accumulating interest.
Efforts to initiate dialogues with the government for a potential settlement were highlighted by a consortium spokesperson, who expressed disappointment at the lack of response or engagement from the authorities. Baroness Mone has been approached for comment on these developments.
