In evidence presented to the ongoing Covid-19 public inquiry, it has come to light that a Conservative peer played a significant role in introducing a company involved in personal protective equipment (PPE) supply to the UK government.

The peer, Peter Gummer, known as Lord Chadlington, initiated contact with former Prime Minister David Cameron through a text message, leading to the awarding of substantial PPE contracts.

This inquiry session is focusing on the government’s expenditure of billions on medical supplies during the pandemic and is examining the controversial use of the 'VIP lane', a system that prioritized companies with political connections.

The inquiry has highlighted two specific contracts, totalling £50 million, awarded to SG Recruitment, which illustrate the workings of this VIP lane.

Notably, the first contract was granted only a week after Chadlington's initial approach to Cameron.

Lord Chadlington, who holds a peerage and is a shareholder in the Sumner Group Holdings (SGH), communicated with Cameron, after which he contacted another Tory peer, Andrew Feldman, who was advising the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on PPE procurement.

Cameron provided Chadlington with Feldman’s contact information, enabling a swift connection between the two.

In a text message to Feldman, Chadlington stated, "Andrew.

I work with company with PPE.

D says you are helping.

Shall I put you in touch?

Peter." Feldman responded affirmatively, giving Chadlington his DHSC email address.

Subsequently, Chadlington facilitated an introduction between Feldman and David Sumner, the chief executive of SGH.

An email from Chadlington to Sumner read, "This is my friend Andrew Feldman.

He can help you with PPE we discussed this morning.

Drop me off chain.

Peter."

Sumner subsequently engaged with Feldman to supply PPE, with Feldman forwarding the offer to civil servants within the VIP lane, noting Sumner's connection through Chadlington.

Communications from Chadlington encouraged Sumner, indicating knowledge of an advantageous position within the procurement process.

As a result of these connections, the DHSC awarded SG Recruitment a contract worth £23.9 million for coveralls shortly after Chadlington's communication with Cameron.

A second contract, valued at £26.1 million for hand sanitiser, was awarded later in May 2020. Following the signing of the second contract, Sumner communicated to Chadlington regarding the contracts totaling $135 million in revenue from the DHSC, to which Chadlington expressed approval, suggesting a positive impact on the company's share price.

The documents submitted to the inquiry by the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, comprising members of over 7,000 families who lost loved ones during the pandemic, underline the urgency of examining the VIP lane’s operations.

The inquiry has also scrutinized Chadlington’s prior claims regarding his role, particularly his assertion that he merely passed along Feldman’s email address without actively facilitating the introduction.

Chadlington faced an investigation by the House of Lords commissioner for standards in 2022 and 2023 due to previous reports.

In a written statement from August 2023, Chadlington maintained he did not advocate for Sumner or supply details about the company.

The commissioner, following investigations, cleared Chadlington of any misconduct related to the peerage conduct regulations.

The bereaved families have submitted that the public has the right to assess whether the correspondence uncovered is consistent with Chadlington’s prior accounts.

Responses from Chadlington’s representatives emphasize his consistent communications during the inquiry process.

Feldman confirmed receipt of the initial text and email from Chadlington but denied any further communication, rejecting claims that he was supporting any specific supplier in the procurement process.

Cameron has yet to respond to inquiries regarding his communications during this timeline.

SG Recruitment, despite its significant contracts, is currently in liquidation as of December 2023, due to unpaid tax obligations, with its parent company having entered liquidation in October 2022. Chadlington resigned as a director from SG Recruitment in April 2021. The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition has posited that such preferential treatment for companies linked to political figures appears unique to the UK, as no comparable instances have been documented in other nations during the pandemic.