MP Abrahams demands PM apology following ‘factually untrue’ statement on PPE contracts

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has said the Prime Minister must apologise after making statements to MPs that were ‘factually untrue’ when he told them at the end of February that all contracts given out for PPE had been published.

On February 19, a High Court Ruling found the Government had acted unlawfully by not publishing the PPE contracts it had awarded within the legal timeframe required.

The government is required by law to publish a ‘contract award notice’ within 30 days of awarding any contracts for public goods or services worth more than £120,000.

On February 22, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs: “The contracts are there on the record for everybody to see,” but on March 5, a court order, using the Government’s own figures, revealed that at the time of the statement, 100 contracts remained unpublished.

During a House of Commons debate on March 9 about the Government’s handling of Covid-related contracts, including of so-called VIP contracts, Ms Abrahams challenged the accuracy of the Prime Minister’s words.

She said: "The High Court ruling made it absolutely clear that, at the time of the Prime Minister’s response to honourable and right honourable members in this House last month, 100 contracts had not been published.

"They were outstanding. 

“Whether intentional or not, the Prime Minister made statements to this House that were factually untrue.

“He needs to come to this place with a full apology, as warranted by the ministerial code.”

In response government minister, Edward Argar, from the Department of Health and Social Care, said: “In terms of the specifics the honourable lady asked about, in respect of the Court judgment and the Prime Minister, as I understand it on the date the Prime Minister spoke 100% of the contract awards notices, the details of the contracts are contained within them, were published, and that, I believe, is what my right honourable friend was referring to.”

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