A new legal effort is underway to recover millions of pounds owed to the UK government following the collapse of PPE Medpro, the company at the centre of one of the most high-profile pandemic procurement controversies.
Sources indicate that Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband, businessman Doug Barrowman, are among a group of individuals facing legal action launched by the company’s liquidators.
The proceedings form part of a broader attempt to reclaim funds connected to the failed business after it entered liquidation.
Government Pursues Recovery of Massive Court Award
The latest developments follow a major court victory for the government in 2025
. The High Court ordered PPE Medpro to repay £122 million, plus interest, after ruling that the company had breached a contract involving the supply of sterile surgical gowns during the Covid-19 pandemic.
While the government secured judgment in its favour, recovering the money has proven more complicated.
Financial records showed the company possessed less than £1 million in assets before it was placed into liquidation in December 2025.
Pandemic Contracts Under Renewed Scrutiny
PPE Medpro emerged in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus crisis, when authorities were urgently seeking personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers.
The company secured lucrative government contracts, including an early agreement to supply face masks after being referred through the controversial “VIP lane” system.
The referral was linked to Baroness Mone, who at the time served as a Conservative member of the House of Lords.
Questions surrounding the company’s operations later intensified when concerns were raised about the quality and compliance of protective equipment supplied under government contracts.
Court Found Surgical Gowns Failed Key Requirements
The dispute centred on surgical gowns intended for NHS staff.
Government lawyers argued that the products did not meet the required healthcare standards.
In its ruling, the High Court concluded that PPE Medpro had failed to demonstrate that the gowns had undergone a validated sterilisation process.
The decision ultimately led to the substantial repayment order against the company.
Liquidators Expand Recovery Efforts
Following the company’s insolvency, joint liquidators from Interpath Advisory launched legal proceedings against six individuals and five companies connected to PPE Medpro.
Among those named are four former company directors.
One of them is accountant Arthur Lancaster, who has been associated with businessman Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The legal action is aimed at tracing and recovering assets that may help satisfy outstanding liabilities.
Neither Mone nor Barrowman has publicly commented on the latest claims.
Mone and Barrowman’s Links to PPE Medpro
For several years, both Mone and Barrowman denied involvement with PPE Medpro despite growing scrutiny surrounding the company.
However, in 2023, Barrowman acknowledged during a BBC interview that he was the ultimate beneficial owner of the business.
During the same interview, Mone confirmed that she benefited from a trust that had received profits generated by the company.
Those admissions became a significant turning point in the public debate surrounding the firm’s operations and ownership structure.
Additional Tax Dispute Adds Pressure
Beyond the government’s £122 million claim, PPE Medpro is also facing a substantial demand from HM Revenue & Customs.
Tax authorities have submitted a separate claim worth £39 million, alleging that the company owes unpaid taxes. The claim adds another major financial burden to the liquidation process and could complicate efforts to distribute recovered funds.
Ministers Expect Strong Recovery Measures
The Department of Health and Social Care has stated that responsibility for recovering money rests with the appointed liquidators rather than government ministers.
Officials have nevertheless made clear that they expect vigorous action to be taken to pursue available funds and maximise recoveries for taxpayers.
Interpath Advisory has declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings.
Criminal Investigation Remains Active
Alongside the civil litigation, PPE Medpro remains under investigation by the National Crime Agency.
The agency is conducting a separate criminal inquiry into matters connected to the company, ensuring that scrutiny of the controversial pandemic supplier continues on multiple fronts.
As legal battles intensify, the outcome of the recovery efforts could determine whether a significant portion of the public funds lost through the failed PPE contracts can ultimately be returned to the taxpayer.
