United Kingdom

Police raid Baroness Monet’s mansion in an investigation into the £ 200m PPE contract

Michel Monet’s home was attacked by police as part of an investigation by the National Crime Agency against a TPP company linked to a Tory partner.

On Wednesday, properties related to PPE Medpro, which secured more than £ 200m in government contracts at the start of the pandemic, were searched, with employees allegedly removing documents, computers and telephones.

These include the home of the Isle of Man by 50-year-old Baroness Moon, who rose to prominence in the 1990s as the founder of the lingerie company Ultimo and was challenged by David Cameron as a Tory peer in 2015.

She shares the mansion with her billionaire husband, businessman Douglas Barrowman.

Earlier, Ms Maun denied having any involvement with PPE Medpro, a company awarded contracts worth £ 203 million for the supply of surgical masks and dresses for the NHS in May and June 2020.

The company was founded by one of its former business partners just weeks before it won the PPE deal.

However, it is said to be influential in ensuring that the company wins a seat in the government’s “VIP strip”, in which suppliers recommended by politicians, colleagues and employees receive preferential treatment.

Leaked emails suggest that Baroness Monet also lobbied the government on behalf of the company behind the scenes.

An employee said she was “hot with anger” over the company’s treatment and threatened to raise the issue with Michael Gove and Matt Hancock, then health secretary.