Charlie Alford

New details emerge about suspended Reform MPs Covid loan scandal

Post author:Willem Moore
Post published:29 July 2026
Post last modified:30 July 2026

Another politician linked to Reform UK has become embroiled in a financial scandal. The MP had already self-suspended, though, so that should at least save Reform some time if things don’t go in his favour: EXCL by @GeorgeGreenwood Suspended Reform MP was blocked from winding up two companies — as they failed to repay *still* unexplained taxpayer-backed Covid loans. James McMurdock has lashed out at scrutiny since Sunday Times posed Qs, but never explained pandemic debts. — Gabriel Pogrund (@Gabriel_Pogrund) July 28, 2026 Reform Covid loans James McMurdock suspended himself in 2025 after questions emerged about the Covid loans. Now, the…

Unions and anti-corruption campaigners react to damning Covid Inquiry report

Post author:Grace
Post published:15 July 2026
Post last modified:16 July 2026

Yesterday, 15 July, the Covid Inquiry published its latest update — this time focusing on the Johnson government’s failure to secure adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). In response, both anti-corruption campaigning organisations and the unions representing affected hospital workers have been swift to issue their condemnation. As the Canary’s Joe Glenton previously reported: Boris Johnson’s government wasted £10bn on unusable personal protective equipment (PPE), the Covid inquiry report has found. Inquiry chair Heather Hallett also slammed the then-Conservative government’s use of firms with Tory ‘VIP’ connections to fulfil major PPE contracts. BMA: Government performance ‘an omnishambles’ Reacting to the Module 5 report,…

Covid cronyism: Inquiry finds Johnson government squandered £10bn in unusable PPE

Post author:Joe Glenton
Post published:14 July 2026
Post last modified:14 July 2026

Boris Johnson’s government wasted £10bn on unusable personal protective equipment (PPE), the Covid inquiry report has found. Inquiry chair Heather Hallett also slammed the then-Conservative government’s use of firms with Tory ‘VIP’ connections to fulfil major PPE contracts. Focusing on the broader impact of Covid, the Guardian reported: The most high-profile scandal of the VIP lane contracts was PPE Medpro, a newly formed company linked to the then Conservative peer Michelle Mone, which was awarded two contracts worth £203m after Mone first approached Michael Gove, the then Cabinet Office minister, in May 2020. Hallett noted in her report: “The ‘high priority…