The Government's Use Of A 'VIP Lane' To Award PPE Contracts To Two Businesses During The First Coronavirus Pandemic Was Illegal, According To The High Court.

A judge decides that preferential treatment was offered, but given the rush for PPE in the early days of the pandemic, PestFix and Ayanda Capital were likely to get contracts regardless.

The use of a so-called VIP lane by the government to give PPE contracts to two businesses during the first COVID wave was illegal, according to the High Court.

The challenge was brought by campaign groups the Good Law Project and EveryDoctor, who claimed that the bid procedure gave people with political ties unfair preferential treatment.

They sued over contracts worth more than £340 million issued to pest control service PestFix in 2020, as well as a deal for roughly £252 million to hedge fund Ayanda Capital.

The ruling adds to the pressure on Boris Johnson and his cabinet, which is dealing with a slew of sleaze claims, with Labour alleging a "pay for access" mentality within the Conservative Party.

Mr Johnson admitted at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons that he attended a Downing Street garden drinks party during the first lockdown, triggering calls for him to quit from opposition parties.

According to the High Court, the VIP lane for PPE contracts was reserved for referrals from MPs, ministers, and senior officials, because the Department of Health had "prioritised suppliers including PestFix and Ayanda because of who they knew, not what they could deliver" under then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock.