UK Corruption review finds 'red flags' in more than 130 Covid contracts
An anti-corruption charity says it has identified significant concerns in contracts worth over £15.3bn awarded by the Conservative government during the Covid pandemic, equivalent to one in every £3 spent.
Transparency International UK found 135 “high-risk” contracts with at least three red flags - warning signs of a risk of corruption.
Twenty-eight contracts worth £4.1bn went to firms with known political connections, while 51 worth £4bn went through a "VIP lane" for companies recommended by MPs and peers, a practice the High Court ruled was unlawful.
A Conservative spokesperson said: “Government policy was in no way influenced by the donations the party received – they are entirely separate.”