Rishi Sunak refuses to apologise for PPE contracts handed to companies with ties to MPs

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, declined to apologise for PPE contracts given to companies with links to MPs and ministers during the first wave of coronavirus.

Appearing on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show, Sunak was questioned on the government's purchase of 50 million face masks from Ayanda Capital that were later deemed unusable for NHS workers. 'It was right to try to do everything we can, and I'm not going to apologise for us reacting in that way,' Sunak said.

The Guardian YouTube network:

[titaniumonkey]

This will never end. until we punish politicians who abuse their power.

[IamRobotMonkey]

HOW MANY TIMES?! IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S MONEY - IT'S OURS!!!

[Ozone]

A Tory MP refusing to apologise for corruption. Who'd have thought it?

[LJAndrews]

At this point just seeing anyone from the goverment in a interview is like watching a comedy sketch, except they are more realistic and honest and funny

[bunbwre]

This should be made illegal full stop. No companies that have any personal interaction with an MP should be able to work for the government full stop.

[poodlehorn]

"yes we did the totally right thing by buying the totally wrong thing". That's an air tight defence if I ever heard one 🤔

[jtmmmm]

Ahh just like they authorised medical cannabis on the NHS and handed the supply contract to the husband of a conservative MP.

[femazik]

of course he wouldn't apologise... he did not waste his money, did he? try to make such mistake in the private sector and you are out and potentially charged... problem is that government officials work for us and yet they do not answer to us - driving to check your eyesight is fine, bullying at work is fine, wasting money is fine, lying is just fine...

[yetidodger]

just remember you’re talking to an active tax less then honest.

[paulwebb]

Basically, he saw an opportunity to make his mates rich, wouldn't have taken much checking, to see if these people were capable of delivering what they were going to be paid for

[candyman]

Back in the summer when everyone was singing Sunaks praises. I wondered how long it would be before he showed himself to be as soiled as the rest of Johnson's government.

[sterlingarcher]

‘Should I carry out due diligence, or take a chance to make some money?’ Ah, the dilemma of those at the top.

[theresenydahl]

What?! That's corruption per definition 🙄
All MPs and the entire government has to submit an complete list of shares and property in the beginning of their term of service in Sweden. These declarations are public documents for anyone to see. If there's any controversial shares that has the slightest connection to their political appointment, they are expected to immediately sell it in order to be able to accept the position. PM and later twice foreign secretary Carl Bildt had to do it every time when appointed..

Transparency has to do with trust, if UK allow this kind of appalling transactions, the politicians of any party will find it difficult to enjoy any trust of the people and your political system could ultimately be at stake. PM with perhaps more in depth information about political decisions to come making deals and big personal profit during a pandemic with record high fatality rate ?! Corruption at the taxpayers' expense at it's worst in my opinion.

[markyw]

He getting drilled but always smiles when he trustworthy at all.

[mariawoo]

I automatically don't trust politicians that make an effort not to answer yes or no, on a yes/no question.

[paulwebb]

Have these people never heard of Google, would have taken 30 seconds to get a list of suitable companies, but instead they just went through the contact lists on their phones

[BruBish]

“Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut” - Quote from Goodfellas. No difference here

[jonnyvirgomusic]

I wasn't involved in this particular contract. Seems like he's distancing himself.

[christycullen]

In other words. I'm not going to say sorry for making me and my friends obscenely rich while everyone else suffered. There I've fixed the title for you

[RedcoatGaming]

This pandemic clearly created an opportunity for wealthy people to get wealthier. How these barely formed companies, and minuscule assets are awarded contracts worth INSANE sums of money for PPE is beyond me. The fact that our own elected government officials are facilitating this corruption is depressing. I've never before believed in the phrase "It's not what you know, but who you know" so much in my life.