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Covid Contracts - Follow the Money ITV1

(10 Posts)
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Eloethan Tue 23-Sept-25 19:34:47

Has anyone watched this yet?

If we are wondering why we are in such a dreadful mess in this country, this programme throws some light on the billions of pounds that were wasted by our previous government.

The degree of corruption exposed in this programme is absolutely earth shattering. Conservative donors and supporters were "VIP" fast-tracked to provide PPE and testing kits -despite them having no experience whatsoever in the production of these vital items. Meanwhile, longstanding companies who had been manufacturing these goods for years were deliberately sidelined in favour of chums.

Some PEP production was sub-contracted to Chinese firms - with an eventual huge mark-up for the UK companies. Much of what was provided proved to be unsafe to use.

While the UK spent upwards of £15 billion on Covid-related products, the rest of Europe spent an average of less than £3 billion.

You will just gasp at the sheer greed of the favoured providers and the complete lack of common sense and oversight of the Conservative government.

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Chardy Tue 23-Sept-25 20:50:54

I watched half, and got angry.

During Covid lockdown, I heard the manager of a proper PPE business say (on R4 Today?) they could contact anyone in govt and ended up selling to USA. Then we heard about the VIP lane, so a lot of this was already talked about. But it was so depressing to see the numbers in their £millions and even parts of a billion

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keepingquiet Tue 23-Sept-25 21:28:22

I didn't see the programme but have been watching the Inquiry regularly and so this does not surprise me.

Johnson and his government were not only inept, they thought it all a huge joke.

People died.

I'm not laughing...

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Harris27 Tue 23-Sept-25 21:38:07

Disgusting

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Toetoe Tue 23-Sept-25 21:45:52

I will watch but I do get quite angry and feel so resentful towards those in charge . I'd like to follow this thread to see other people's feelings.

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Eloethan Tue 23-Sept-25 23:24:52

I really hope lots of people - on here as well - watch this programme. It is difficult to imagine the massive amount of money earned by just a few individuals and companies. This was public money, recklessly allocated, with more than a sniff of corruption and cronyism. Millions spent just on storage and eventual disposal (who was the bright spark who thought getting 15 years' worth of PPE was a good idea - surely it doesn't last that long?)

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windmill1 Wed 24-Sept-25 06:37:18

Was Michelle Mone asked for a comment?

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Chocolatelovinggran Wed 24-Sept-25 08:29:07

Good question, windmill!

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keepingquiet Wed 24-Sept-25 08:47:26

What about Baroness Harding? She appeared at the enquiry and like everyone else with some responsibilty, blamed everyone else!

It makes me sick to the core...

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Eloethan Wed 24-Sept-25 10:48:44

The programme suggested that, despicable as her behaviour was, she was certainly not the only person to take advantage of contacts in the Conservative Party to secure deals worth millions of pounds. There were many other high profile people involved but they seem to have escaped the media's attention. It was suggested that MM, a working class woman with only very recent and limited connections to the political hierarchy, has been used to take the attention away from more institutionally connected people. I have no sympathy whatsoever for MM but I feel those who had gained even more from a corrupt system should also feel the heat.

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