Un estudio reciente de Transparency International UK ha mostrado indicios preocupantes de posible corrupción en contratos gubernamentales relacionados con el Covid, cuyo valor supera los £15.3 mil millones. Estos contratos, otorgados durante la pandemia por el gobierno liderado por los conservadores, representan casi un tercio del gasto total en adquisición del sector privado para suministros y servicios relacionados con la pandemia. Los hallazgos, que evidencian irregularidades generalizadas, han suscitado serios cuestionamientos sobre la transparencia y responsabilidad en la respuesta del gobierno ante la pandemia.
The anti-corruption organization highlighted 135 contracts they classified as «high risk,» each marked by a minimum of three signals suggesting possible corruption. Some of the most troubling discoveries included contracts amounting to £4.1 billion given to companies with established political connections, and another £4 billion allocated via a contentious «VIP lane» method, which permitted businesses endorsed by MPs and peers to skip regular procurement procedures. A High Court decision has now declared the VIP lane illegal. Transparency International UK is currently calling on officials to conduct a deeper investigation into these contracts.
Un desglose de los hallazgos
Transparency International UK carried out a thorough examination of more than 5,000 contracts related to Covid. Their assessment highlighted the suspension of usual procurement protections amid the pandemic, which the government defended as essential to speed up the provision of vital supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE). Nevertheless, the organization contends that ignoring these safeguards fostered conditions conducive to favoritism and corruption.
A striking discovery indicated that almost two-thirds of the high-value contracts, totaling £30.7 billion, were granted without any competitive bidding process. The absence of competition is viewed as a major risk factor, as it eliminates essential checks and balances intended to guarantee that public funds are distributed effectively and justly.
One notable finding was that nearly two-thirds of high-value contracts, amounting to £30.7 billion, were awarded without any form of competitive bidding. This lack of competition is considered a significant risk factor, as it removes critical checks and balances designed to ensure that public funds are spent efficiently and fairly.
Additionally, the review identified eight contracts worth a combined £500 million that were awarded to companies less than 100 days old. The short lifespan of these firms raised questions about their qualifications and the legitimacy of their selection. Such practices, Transparency International UK said, are clear “red flags” for corruption.
Throughout the pandemic, the government, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, justified its choice to forego conventional bidding procedures, pointing to the pressing need for medical supplies. Officials contended that the extraordinary conditions of the health emergency necessitated rapid measures to obtain essential resources. There was a global demand for personal protective equipment, ventilators, and testing kits, and any delays in obtaining these items could have resulted in dire outcomes.
Un portavoz del Partido Conservador reiteró que la política gubernamental no fue influenciada por donaciones políticas o conexiones. «La adjudicación de contratos estuvo completamente separada de las actividades del partido», afirmó el portavoz. Sin embargo, tales garantías han hecho poco para calmar las críticas públicas, especialmente a la luz del fallo del Tribunal Superior en contra del sistema de vía VIP.
A Conservative Party spokesperson reiterated that government policy was not influenced by political donations or connections. “The awarding of contracts was entirely separate from party activities,” the spokesperson said. However, such assurances have done little to quell public criticism, especially in light of the High Court’s ruling against the VIP lane system.
Transparency International UK has countered the government’s defense, arguing that many of the safeguards suspended during the pandemic could and should have remained in place. The charity claims that the failure to adhere to these safeguards has cost taxpayers billions of pounds and eroded public trust in government institutions.
The economic impact of these procurement methods is overwhelming. Out of the £48.1 billion allocated by the government for pandemic-related contracts, nearly £14.9 billion has been dismissed as losses by the Department of Health and Social Care. This figure encompasses about £1 billion spent on PPE that was considered unfit for use, as reported by Spotlight on Corruption, another NGO dedicated to ensuring accountability in public spending.
El problema va más allá de las pérdidas económicas. Los hallazgos también han puesto de manifiesto el daño reputacional al gobierno del Reino Unido y sus instituciones. El director ejecutivo de Transparency International UK, Daniel Bruce, expresó su preocupación por las debilidades sistémicas reveladas por el análisis. “La presencia de múltiples señales de alerta en más de £15 mil millones de contratos indica algo más que coincidencia o incompetencia”, afirmó Bruce. Añadió que el proceso de adquisición permitió que el amiguismo prosperara, facilitado por niveles inadecuados de transparencia.
Bruce también señaló que ningún otro país adoptó un sistema similar al de la vía VIP del Reino Unido durante sus respuestas a la pandemia. Hizo un llamado a la investigación pública sobre el Covid-19 y al planificado comisionado de corrupción del Covid para que responsabilicen a quienes corresponda y garanticen que se aprendan lecciones para prevenir problemas similares en el futuro.
Bruce also pointed out that no other country adopted a system like the UK’s VIP lane during their pandemic responses. He called on the Covid-19 public inquiry and the planned Covid corruption commissioner to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that lessons are learned to prevent similar issues in the future.
Calls for accountability and reform
The Covid-19 public inquiry, now progressing into its third phase, is anticipated to scrutinize the government’s management of the pandemic, particularly its procurement methods. Transparency International UK has urged the inquiry to focus on accountability and transparency, stressing the importance of structural reforms to avert the reappearance of similar problems in future emergencies.
Critics contend that the government’s inability to uphold transparent and equitable procurement methods during the pandemic has weakened public trust in its capacity to handle public finances. They are calling for more rigorous oversight measures, increased transparency in awarding contracts, and steps to prevent inappropriate political influence in procurement choices.
Critics argue that the government’s failure to ensure transparent and fair procurement practices during the pandemic has undermined public confidence in its ability to manage public funds. They are demanding stricter oversight mechanisms, greater transparency in contract awards, and measures to prevent undue political influence in procurement decisions.
The UK government’s procurement methods have faced examination before. A report by the National Audit Office released in November 2020 found no proof of direct ministerial involvement in contract decisions or management. Nonetheless, the report did underscore considerable shortcomings in oversight and accountability, especially regarding the issuance of contracts without competitive bidding.
This is not the first time the UK government’s procurement practices have come under scrutiny. A National Audit Office report published in November 2020 found no evidence of direct ministerial involvement in contract decisions or management. However, the report did highlight significant weaknesses in oversight and accountability, particularly in the awarding of contracts without competition.
Los hallazgos también reflejan preocupaciones más amplias sobre la influencia de conexiones políticas en la adquisición pública. La adjudicación de contratos a empresas con vínculos con políticos o donantes ha sido durante mucho tiempo un tema polémico, con críticos argumentando que socava los principios de equidad y meritocracia.
The findings also echo broader concerns about the influence of political connections in public procurement. The awarding of contracts to firms with ties to politicians or donors has long been a contentious issue, with critics arguing that it undermines the principles of fairness and meritocracy.
As the UK deals with the aftermath of the pandemic, attention turns to preventing a repeat of past errors. The Covid-19 public inquiry, along with the proposed Covid corruption commissioner, will be vital in revealing the complete scope of the issues and ensuring accountability for those involved.
As the UK grapples with the fallout from the pandemic, the focus now shifts to ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. The Covid-19 public inquiry and the planned Covid corruption commissioner will play crucial roles in uncovering the full extent of the issues and holding those responsible to account.
For Transparency International UK, the priority is clear: rebuild public trust by implementing robust safeguards and enforcing transparency in public procurement. The charity has called on the government to take swift action to address the systemic weaknesses highlighted by its review and to adopt international best practices for corruption prevention.
The revelations serve as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency, particularly in times of crisis. As the public inquiry unfolds, the challenge will be to balance the need for urgent action in emergencies with the imperative to uphold the principles of fairness, integrity, and accountability in the use of public funds.
The road to restoring trust in government institutions will not be easy, but it is a necessary step to ensure that future crises are managed more effectively and ethically. By learning from the mistakes of the pandemic, the UK has an opportunity to strengthen its systems and set a new standard for public procurement in the years to come.
