January 12, 2022 – Transparency International UK welcomes today’s High Court ruling that the VIP lane was unlawful, and urges the UK government to include public contracting during the pandemic within the terms of the COVID-19 Inquiry, due to start in Spring 2022, as soon as possible.

The judgement ruled that the VIP lane conferred preferential treatment on bids and that the approach for allocating offers to the VIP lane was flawed. In April 2021, our Track and Trace report highlighted concerns over what we found to be ‘systemic bias’. Overall, the research found that one in five PPE contracts awarded from February to November 2020 raised one or more red flags for corruption.

We have urged the government to be transparent and accountable over decisions made during the pandemic, yet these answers have not been forthcoming. Questions still remain over fundamental elements of the VIP lane, such as who knew about it, when and why them and not others.

Today’s ruling reiterates the importance of including public procurement in the COVID-19 Inquiry, due to start in Spring 2022. The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry are yet to be published, despite questions from parliamentarians. Like the Institute for Government, we are calling for public procurement to be included within the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry, and hope that the recently appointed Chair will have a role in shaping them.

Daniel Bruce, Chief Executive, Transparency International UK said:

“Today’s judgement confirms our view that the VIP lane for triaging PPE offers amounted to systemic bias in the awarding of COVID contracts. To expedite suppliers based on their political connections rather than objective criteria raises serious questions over the government’s approach to the management of public funds. It is high time ministers provided full and candid disclosure over their use of taxpayers’ money during the pandemic.

Ministers have repeatedly brushed aside key questions from MPs over the VIP lane. The government's resistance in the Commons and in court to disclosing how billions of pounds of public money were spent in this way gives the overwhelming impression that there is something to hide. To set the record straight, the award of contracts relating to the pandemic should form a core part of the forthcoming independent inquiry.”