Home Secretary Priti Patel faces questions THE Home Secretary faces questions over the ministerial code after leaked documents revealed she pressed ministers to give a £28.8 million PPE contract to a firm represented by her former adviser. Priti Patel had tried to secure a separate deal for the same company, Pharmaceuticals Direct Limited (PDL), days prior. Six days after she contacted those in charge of procurement to tell them what the firm had to offer, PDL landed the previously unreported multi-million-pound deal for surgical masks. A former unpaid adviser to Patel and councillor in Kent, Samir Jassal now describes himself as a “healthcare and pharmaceutical partner”. He had a key role in negotiating for PDL.
Leaked documents now show the Home Secretary pressed ministers and officials intervened to give a previously unreported £28.8million contract to a firm represented by Samir Jassal.
Priti Patel is accused of a glaring and flagrant breach of the code by Labour THERE are calls for an inquiry after Priti Patel was accused of a “glaring and flagrant” breach of the ministerial code over PPE lobbying. The Home Secretary lobbied fellow minister Michael Gove on behalf of a healthcare company trying to secure a £20 million PPE deal. The Daily Mail revealed that in April 2020, Patel lobbied Gove over a £20m contract for masks for Pharmaceutical Direct Ltd after being approached by former adviser and Tory candidate Samir Jassal.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the surgical masks were not suitable for the NHS. Weeks later, the company secured a deal worth £102.6m to supply a different kind of mask.
A Daily Mail investigation revealed:
Miss Patel lobbied Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove in April last year over a £20million contract for surgical masks for Pharmaceuticals Direct Ltd (PDL) after an approach from her former adviser Samir Jassal;
Her efforts failed after Health Secretary Matt Hancock decided the masks were not suitable for the NHS ;
Weeks later the firm was awarded a no-bid, no-competition deal worth £102.6million to supply a better type of mask;
The Home Secretary made no declaration about Mr Jassal s approach, or mention his links to PDL;
Mr Jassal, a two-time parliamentary candidate and Tory councillor in Kent, played a key role in negotiating the more lucrative deal, with the masks priced at almost twice the Government s benchmark rate;