Lord Agnew, a former minister who oversaw procurement during the pandemic, defended the controversial VIP lane that fast-tracked contracts to certain suppliers, admitting that while some "crooks" may have received contracts, the priority was to address critical shortages of personal protective equipment. He criticized the Covid inquiry's continual focus on the VIP lane, asserting that it was mischaracterized as a scheme for personal gain. Agnew acknowledged mistakes in the contracting process but emphasized the urgency of the situation, arguing that obtaining any credible suppliers was essential to deliver needed PPE at that time.
Lord Agnew argued that while some less credible suppliers may have slipped through the VIP lane, overall, it was necessary to address urgent PPE shortages.
Defending the process, Agnew dismissed claims of a scheme for personal gain, saying they were focused on securing rapid assistance during a crisis.
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