People suspected of defrauding the system during the covid pandemic are being urged to settle their debts or face the “hit squad”. Letters are being sent to suspected fraudsters warning them they have until December to repay any public funds they may have obtained under false pretences.
After the voluntary settlement scheme concludes, the Government has vowed to impose penalties of up to 100% of the amount they pilfered from taxpayers. Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared at the Labour party conference last week, “we want our money back”.
She said: “We are getting that money back, and we are putting it where it belongs, in our communities, in our schools, and in our National Health Service.”
A Labour spokesperson said: “Time is running out for people who owe money to the public purse.
“The voluntary repayment scheme ends in December – the message is clear, pay up now or face the Covid fraud hit squad.”
This follows chairwoman of the Labour Party Anna Turley demanding Reform UK leader Nigel Farage apologise for his earlier remarks regarding PPE Medpro.
In correspondence to the Reform UK leader, Ms Turley condemned him for claiming it was not a “great scandal” in 2023.
PPE Medpro, a firm connected to Baroness Michelle Mone, has subsequently been instructed by the High Court to return £122 million, following findings that it violated a contract to provide surgical gowns during the pandemic.
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