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Case Update

We’re in Court tomorrow

2nd May 2022

Tomorrow our challenge over the Government’s shambolic award of lucrative public health contracts to Abingdon Health reaches the High Court for a three-day hearing. 

Like so many of the contracts we’ve uncovered, these were awarded secretly, without any advertisement or competition, and without any lawful decision-making process. 

In the course of this challenge, we have uncovered a secret VIP lane for testing contracts, just as we did for PPE contracts. When we first put these allegations to Ministers, they tried to say our claims were “completely false”, but internal emails between Department for Health civil servants revealed they did have a “VIP route” for those lucky enough to have ministerial sponsors. 

We don’t believe this is how Government should ever do business, let alone when lives are at stake. 

Without your support, we would never have made it this far. With just 24 hours to go will you donate and back us this week?

The process surrounding the testing regime was woeful from the start. And the Government has struggled to get their story straight. 

Our lawyers will be fighting for answers in the High Court from Tuesday 3 May to Thursday 5 May. 

Thank you for your support. We will of course keep you updated.


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Further info:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/30/bids-from-politically-connected-firms-for-covid-test-contracts-designated-fast-track-email-suggests

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/emails-emerge-of-vip-route-for-uk-covid-test-contracts

Case

This article is part of our Abingdon Health case

In April, Government announced that they supported the creation of the UK Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC). The idea was that the companies and institutions involved would create a rapid antibody test. On 2nd June, Government awarded a contract worth £10 million to Abingdon Health for the materials needed to produce the test. On 14th August, they handed Abingdon Health another contract worth a staggering £75 million.

See more about this case