Roughly one-in-ten suppliers processed through the VIP channel – 47 out of 493 – obtained lucrative PPE contracts, compared to less than one-in-a-hundred suppliers that came through the ordinary lane.
The National Audit Office found that suppliers with links to Tory politicians were ten times more likely to be awarded contracts.
Up to £80 billion of trade that had been covered by EU deals is yet to be made up for by other treaties.
“There is overwhelming evidence that entities connected to key government figures have made staggering fortunes from these procurement contracts."
Experts pointed out that the current tariff on soy sauce is zero - because the EU has a FTA with Japan.
PestFix - a little-known pest control firm based in Sussex, with just 16 members of staff - was given a £168.5 million contract to provide three different types of face masks in April.
Ministers could dodge the vote by arguing that it goes beyond the powers of the House of Lords.
"Such gross hypocrisy - after all the pledges that ministers would stand up for high standards in food, farming & animal protection - now they’re trying to avoid a vote on it tomorrow."
That’s spared all concerned a great deal of embarrassment.