Baroness Mone and her husband, Doug Barrowman, discuss their involvement in selling PPE to the UK government. They admit to lying about their connection and express regret. The challenges of delivering gowns and the ownership structure of the company are also discussed. The hosts confront the guests about their lack of transparency, while they defend their actions. The podcast ends with an interview about the PPE scandal and promotion of Nordstrom as a shopping destination.
Baroness Mone and Doug Barriman aimed to supply PPE to the UK government during the pandemic to help support the crisis, despite facing accusations of profiting from it.
The couple admits to withholding information about their involvement with PPE MedPro, leading to media scrutiny and ongoing legal battles.
Deep dives
Key Point 1: Introduction to the PPE controversy
Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband, Doug Barriman, have faced accusations related to the sale of unusable PPE during the COVID pandemic. They have denied any links to the business and any profiting from it. However, they have decided to sit down for an interview to address the claims being made.
Key Point 2: Motivation Behind Getting Involved in PPE Supply
Baroness Mone and Doug Barriman saw the shortage of PPE during the pandemic and believed they could make a difference. They had strong contacts in China and the Far East and wanted to help supply PPE to the UK government. While there was an element of profit, their primary motivation was to provide support during the crisis.
Key Point 3: Government Contracts and Controversy
PPE MedPro, the company the couple was involved with, secured contracts to supply PPE to the government. They delivered masks and surgical gowns at competitive prices, saving the NHS over £100 million. However, controversy arose when their connection to PPE MedPro was revealed, and accusations of financial benefits and deception were made against them.
Key Point 4: Impact on their Lives and Legal Actions
Baroness Mone and Doug Barriman state that their lives have been ruined by the media scrutiny and attacks they have faced. They explain that they have regretted not being upfront about their involvement and have apologized for any misleading statements. They also mention ongoing legal battles, including mediation and negotiations with the Department of Health, as well as allegations of bribery made by a senior government official.
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest news stories from the BBC. In this special episode, we bring you an extended interview with Baroness Mone and her husband, Doug Barrowman.
She admits that she stands to benefit from tens of millions of pounds of profit from PPE that was sold to the UK government during the pandemic by a company led by her husband.
The couple also accept that they lied to the press about their involvement with the firm.
This episode of Newscast was presented by Laura Kuenssberg. It was made by Chris Flynn. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode