Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 3h

The Sheer Scale of the ‘VIP Lane’ PPE Scandal Has Still Not Been Revealed 5 Years On

Evidence suggests that at 20+ more politically-connected suppliers received contracts worth £1B

I reported on this for @bylinetimes.bsky.social in April: bylinetimes.com/2025/04/16/c...

See also Viplanebook.com

The Sheer Scale of the COVID 'VIP Lane' PPE Scandal Has Still Not Been Revealed Five Years On

New evidence published by the COVID Inquiry suggests that at least 20 more politically-connected suppliers received contracts worth £1 billion

bylinetimes.com

1 28 62

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 1d

Or watch ITV’s The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Guardian

www.itv.com/watch/the-co...

www.itv.com

1 3 20

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 1d

Guess who wasn’t named on the VIP list:

- Any Labour, Lib Dem, SNP, Green Party MP’s

- No other political party successfully referred a company into either of the VIP Lanes and that company then secure a contract. 🤷‍♂️

All the details can be found in my
New book: viplanebook.com 👍

VIP Lane – Byline Times Shop

Shipping 1 October Now a major TV documentary This is the story of cronyism that reached the heart of government—how Conservative Party donors and politicians gamed the system during the pandemic to t...

viplanebook.com

2 11 47

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 1d

Baroness Mone isn’t the only Tory Peer named as a VIP Lane referrer.

Also on the list:

Lord Agnew
Lord Gove
Lord Leigh
Lord Feldman
Lord Chadlington
Lord Marks
Lord Deighton
Lord Bethell
Lord Lansley
Lord Prior
+10 other Tory MP’s 👀⤵️

Listen to my chat with @BylineTimesPod :

bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 1d

Billions of pounds worth of unused #PPE literally went up in smoke.

@russellscott1.bsky.social has been investigating the UK's biggest waste of taxpayer's money - and wonders why no one has been held to account.

@goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

podfollow.com/byline-podca...

Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott

Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...

podfollow.com

3 35 77

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 1d

Before Nick Candy became a Reform donor - he was a Tory Donor, and guess what….

His firm Candy Capital were also referred onto the previous governments PPE VIP Lane - despite having no obvious experience procuring PPE.

open.substack.com/pub/democrac... @petergeoghegan.bsky.social

Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy’s firm was put in Covid ‘VIP lane’

Exclusive: Candy’s personal company among previously undisclosed Tory-linked businesses and individuals placed in controversial PPE VIP lane.

open.substack.com

31 71

Reposted by Russell Scott

bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 1d

Billions of pounds worth of unused #PPE literally went up in smoke.

@russellscott1.bsky.social has been investigating the UK's biggest waste of taxpayer's money - and wonders why no one has been held to account.

@goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

podfollow.com/byline-podca...

Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott

Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...

podfollow.com

3 8 25

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 4d

It’s was great to speak to @mrjamesob.bsky.social about my book Viplanebook.com

We talked about the $2billion profit made by Innova following a referral onto the VIP lane by Dominic Cummings 👀

Its’s owner has now splashed the cash on $90m in private jets + mansions 🤷‍♂️

youtu.be/uB58NJi63Co?...

Firm linked to Tory peer must pay back £122m for breaching Covid contract

YouTube video by LBC

youtu.be

2 44 75

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 6d

Watch the full film on ITVx here: www.itv.com/watch/the-co...

📖My book: VIP Lane is available to buy here: viplanebook.com

VIP Lane – Byline Times Shop

Shipping 1 October Now a major TV documentary This is the story of cronyism that reached the heart of government—how Conservative Party donors and politicians gamed the system during the pandemic to t...

viplanebook.com

3 11

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 6d

The previous government spent £billions storing and incinerating unused PPE.

The same VIP’s that supplied unusable PPE made a killing storing and destroying it.

To date 1million pallets have gone up in smoke costing the taxpayer £8.6billion

🎥ITV: The Covid Contracts

3 29 51

Reposted by Russell Scott

Tracey Briggs @traceybriggs1.bsky.social · 6d

An absolute must listen. This podcast is not to be missed. Then watch the documentary and read the book. ⬇️ #PPE

bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 7d

"No other political party was able to refer a company onto the VIP lane and then go on to win contracts."

Talking #PPE and #Tory crony contracts during the Covid era with @russellscott1.bsky.social

@goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

podfollow.com/byline-podca...

Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott

Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...

podfollow.com

5 6

Reposted by Russell Scott

bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 6d

"It is a fact that the VIP Lane was unlawful, and it is a fact that being on the VIP Lane did offer some advantage..."

@russellscott1.bsky.social investigates the #PPE scandal and calls for accountability.

@goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

podfollow.com/byline-podca...

Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott

Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...

podfollow.com

8 34

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 7d

Not so fun fact..

If you placed 1 million pallets of PPE side by side they would stretch from John o’Groats to Lands End.

Not only was the VIP Lane unlawful it was also incredibly wasteful. Over half of VIP firms supplied PPE deemed unsuitable for the NHS.

Viplanebook.com

bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 7d

"At the last count, we had incinerated 1 million pallets of PPE that cost £8.6 billion pounds to buy, literally up in smoke."

@russellscott1.bsky.social talks #PPE scandal with @goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

podfollow.com/byline-podca...

Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott

Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...

podfollow.com

17 40

Reposted by Russell Scott

bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 7d

"No other political party was able to refer a company onto the VIP lane and then go on to win contracts."

Talking #PPE and #Tory crony contracts during the Covid era with @russellscott1.bsky.social

@goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

podfollow.com/byline-podca...

Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott

Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...

podfollow.com

15 46

Reposted by Russell Scott

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 9d

The UK was the only country in the world to set up a VIP lane to procure PPE…

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The previous government also spent £b’s on a 2nd VIP lane procuring Covid Tests

🚨Only referrals from the Conservative Party were successful ⬇️

bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 9d

"No other political party was able to refer a company onto the VIP lane and then go on to win contracts..."

Talking #PPE and the Tories crony contracts during the Covid era with @russellscott1.bsky.social

@goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

podfollow.com/byline-podca...

Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott

Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...

podfollow.com

2 20 43

Reposted by Russell Scott

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 8d

Great to chat with @mrjamesob.bsky.social this week on @lbc.co.uk about my new book: VIP Lane & ITV doc: The Covid Contracts

The UK wasted £10bn on PPE

We were the only country on the planet to set up VIP Lanes during the pandemic

Link below👇

📖 ➡️ viplanebook.com

🎥 youtu.be/uB58NJi63Co?...

Firm linked to Tory peer must pay back £122m for breaching Covid contract

YouTube video by LBC

youtu.be

4 98 220

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 7d

It’s here….

👀🤯

Viplanebook.com

1 6 24

Reposted by Russell Scott

RobWilliams100 @robwilliams100.bsky.social · 11d

This is the book that @mrjamesob.bsky.social just discussed with #RussellScott. In a sane country, the Tories would be finished for good

8 52 170

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 8d

Great to chat with @mrjamesob.bsky.social this week on @lbc.co.uk about my new book: VIP Lane & ITV doc: The Covid Contracts

The UK wasted £10bn on PPE

We were the only country on the planet to set up VIP Lanes during the pandemic

Link below👇

📖 ➡️ viplanebook.com

🎥 youtu.be/uB58NJi63Co?...

Firm linked to Tory peer must pay back £122m for breaching Covid contract

YouTube video by LBC

youtu.be

4 98 220

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 9d

It was great to speak to Adrian for the @bylinetimes.bsky.social podcast.

1

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 9d

The UK was the only country in the world to set up a VIP lane to procure PPE…

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The previous government also spent £b’s on a 2nd VIP lane procuring Covid Tests

🚨Only referrals from the Conservative Party were successful ⬇️

bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 9d

"No other political party was able to refer a company onto the VIP lane and then go on to win contracts..."

Talking #PPE and the Tories crony contracts during the Covid era with @russellscott1.bsky.social

@goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

podfollow.com/byline-podca...

Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott

Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...

podfollow.com

2 20 43

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 9d

Thank you Adrian. I really enjoyed speaking with you. 🙏

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 9d

Great to speak with @goldbergradio.bsky.social on the @bylinetimes.bsky.social podcast.

My new book VIP Lane is available here: viplanebook.com

bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 9d

NEW EPISODE

PPE, The VIP Lane and Cronyism....

@russellscott1.bsky.social joins @goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

podfollow.com/byline-podca...

Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott

Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...

podfollow.com

1 2 4

Russell Scott @russellscott1.bsky.social · 9d

No other country set up a VIP Lane during the pandemic.

No other European country came close to spending the £14billion we spent on PPE.

£10billion of PPE has been written off.

Over 1million pallets of unused PPE have now been incinerated!

£billions literally up in smoke.

Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 10d

'VIP Lane' author (and producer of the 'Covid Contracts documentary) @russellscott1.bsky.social talks covid cronyism with @mrjamesob.bsky.social – just as PPE Medpro is ordered to pay £122 million for providing unusable gowns.

Read 'VIP Lane' for more: subscribe.bylinetimes.com/product/vip-...

8 75 140

Reposted by Russell Scott

Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 10d

'VIP Lane' author (and producer of the 'Covid Contracts documentary) @russellscott1.bsky.social talks covid cronyism with @mrjamesob.bsky.social – just as PPE Medpro is ordered to pay £122 million for providing unusable gowns.

Read 'VIP Lane' for more: subscribe.bylinetimes.com/product/vip-...

5 48 150

Reposted by Russell Scott

Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 10d

"PPE Medpro didn't exist prior to the pandemic."

'VIP Lane' author @russellscott1.bsky.social and @mrjamesob.bsky.social on Westminster's COVID opportunism.

Russell's book (the basis of the five-star 'Covid Contracts' documentary) is available now.

👉 subscribe.bylinetimes.com/product/vip-...

12 81 200