Former MP Owen Paterson discussed how a firm he worked for as a paid consultant could offer Covid-19 tests in messages with then Health Secretary Matt Hancock, documents show. The messages from 2020 refer to health firm Randox, which was later awarded lucrative contracts to supply tests.
Since the start of the pandemic, Randox has been awarded £619.7m in government contracts without a competitive bidding process.
A former environment secretary, Mr Paterson had been earning almost £100,000 a year as a paid consultant for Randox alongside his duties as an MP for North Shropshire.
In October last year, a parliamentary watchdog found Mr Paterson had misused his position as an MP to benefit Randox and another firm he worked for. He quit as an MP last year after being suspended for breaking lobbying rules.
Labour requested the messages as scrutiny intensified over Mr Paterson’s job with Randox.
This is just the tip of the Tory government COVID cronyism and sleaze scandal … 
