Labour Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced that investigations into more than £600m worth of Covid contracts awarded by the Conservatives will be conducted. This move comes as Labour seeks to regain ground on questions of ethics amidst recent scandal and scrutiny.
Reeves has confirmed that over half of the contracts for items such as masks will be referred to the incoming Covid corruption commissioner for review, overturning the previous government’s recommendation to drop investigations into them. The Labour party has been under pressure recently due to allegations of senior ministers accepting donations and gifts from donors.
The controversial VIP lane for Covid contract awards, known for favoring allies of the Conservative party, has been a point of contention. Reeves condemned the billions of public money handed out to friends and donors, citing specific examples such as PPE Medpro, a company linked to a Conservative peer awarded £200m in contracts.
Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool has begun with tensions high, including criticism of decisions made by the government and scandals involving donations. The party faces backlash over policies such as cutting winter fuel payments to pensioners while senior members of the cabinet accept donations and gifts.
Reeves aims to restore morale at the conference by promising thorough investigations into potentially fraudulent Covid contracts and assuring no return to austerity. She believes that up to £2.6bn could be recovered from waste, fraud, and flawed contracts. Additionally, she rejects the notion of significant public spending cuts, emphasizing the need to address the consequences of Conservative austerity while maintaining ambition for the country’s future.
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