Following a five-year legal battle, the Democracy For Sale team have finally been able to identify the full list of ex-cabinet ministers – as well as current and former MPs – who referred firms to the contentious ‘VIP Lane’ for PPE procurement services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The data released by the Cabinet Office this week does come with caveats, however. The verification process itself has not been fully completed, but the list of referrers has been assembled from all records available to researchers. And making a referral in itself is not considered an improper or illegal act.
The issue, however, lies elsewhere. Of the £10 billion the UK reportedly ‘wasted’ on substandard PPE equipment, £1.7 billion of that went to firms who were granted access to the VIP lane – and its estimated that 58% of these funds were squandered on items deemed ‘unfit for use’.
Cronyism was also cited as a major problem – something which the newly released list can corroborate. Nine former cabinet members who served under Boris Johnson have been named in the files. Three of whom (Gavin Williamson, James Cleverly, and Robert Jenrick) are still serving as MPs.
Though Jenrick’s link is identified as only a ‘possible’ connection, Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps, and Michael Gove are named in much more certain terms. Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, meanwhile, is linked to 27 contracts – a significantly higher number than any of his one-time colleagues.
A further seven MPs who still remain in office have also been identified. Though most represent the Conservative Party, both Jim McMahon and Karl Turner were elected as Labour MPs in 2024. An additional17 politicians have since left their roles – including Tory heavyweights Graham Brady and Nicholas Soames.
Below is a full list of all MPs and former cabinet members named in the report.
Former Conservative Cabinet Members:
Dominic Raab – Foreign Secretary / Deputy Prime Minister
Gavin Williamson – Education Secretary (and current MP for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge)
Grant Shapps – Transport Secretary / Business Secretary
James Cleverly – Conservative Party Chairman / Education Secretary (and current MP for Braintree)
Matt Hancock – Health Secretary
Michael Gove – Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster / Levelling Up Secretary
Robert Jenrick – Housing Secretary (and current MP for Newark)
Simon Hart – Welsh Secretary
Theresa Villiers – Environment Secretary
Current MPs:
Ben Spencer – MP for Runnymede and Weybridge
Jim McMahon – MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
Karl Turner – MP for Kingston Upon Hull East
Kevin Hollinrake – MP for Thirsk and Malton
Sir Julian Lewis – MP for New Forest East
Simon Hoare – MP for North Dorset
Esther McVey – MP for Tatton
Former MPs:
Alex Chalk
Angela Richardson
Andrew Griffiths
Andrew Percy
Bob Stewart
Charlie Elphicke
Chris Heaton-Harris
Graham Brady
Iain Stewart
Jeremy Lefroy
Jo Churchill
Marcus Jones
Owen Paterson
Sally-Ann Hart
Sir Nicholas Soames
Steve Brine
Vicky Ford
