Keir Starmer’s Promised ‘Covid Corruption Buster’ is Being Set Up to Fail, Former Anti-Fraud Chief Warns

The Labour Government’s promised new commissioner for clawing back “corrupt” Covid contract cash will have one hand tied behind their back, the former head of the Serious Fraud Office has warned. 

Whoever takes up the official role, which is currently being recruited by the Government, will have just one day apiece to investigate the 135 deals flagged as being ‘high risk’ for corruption by Transparency International. The comments from Sir David Green CBE KC were made at an All Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption meeting this Monday. 

The respected former fraud-buster is concerned by the fact the new commissioner will have a staff of fewer than 10 – and perhaps as low as three or four – and with a contract only lasting for a year. He said that while the role had been expected to be a senior civil service post with major clout, it is instead being advertised as a more junior position. 

David Green KC told the MPs and anti-corruption campaigners present: “The talk on the street, before the advert came out, was that this would be at [Senior Civil Service] 3 level, which is one below permanent secretary, giving such a person real authority within the civil service and dealing with other agencies. It was to be around £180,000 a year with a staff of around 30.” 

“We now find out…that this individual is required to work three days a week, and would be paid £84,000 a year on a one-year contract with what’s called a ‘small staff.’ In my experience, ‘small’ is civil-service speak for about four people. Good luck with that.”

He added that there are 135 potentially corrupt Covid contracts to be looked at, as identified by Transparency International UK in a new report.

“Such an individual will have to rely, in their three days a week, on the cooperation of various agencies: the SFO, HMRC, the Public Sector Fraud Authority, the commercial arms of Government, the Treasury, and HMRC. How much clout will such a person have in galvanising those agencies?,” Sir David asked.

He added that if organised crime was involved in some of the contracts, “the money’s not going to be here; it’s going to be in Dubai or elsewhere offshore.”

The role appears to be focused on large-scale PPE contracts rather than applications for Covid loan schemes. There is likely to be more evidence of organised crime involvement in the latter. 

“Speaking for myself, I’m rather depressed about this luckless individual and their possibilities,” the former Serious Fraud Office chief said. 

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The official job ad says that while the new commissioner will focus on PPE fraud, they will also “receive assessments of fraud recovery work to date in other major covid schemes such as Furlough, Bounce Back Loans, Business Support Grants, Eat Out to Help Out and covid-era Universal Credit fraud”. These were mostly administered by the then Chancellor, and later PM, Rishi Sunak.

A Treasury spokesperson rebuffed the claim that the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner would be a junior role, telling Byline Times: “The commissioner will report directly to the Chancellor, working with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and their report will be presented to Parliament for all Members to see.”

The spokesperson added: “The Chancellor has been clear that she will not tolerate waste and will appoint a Covid Corruption Commissioner to get back the money that is owed to the British people.”

The Chancellor told Parliament on 22nd July that Covid cash is “in the hands of fraudsters…and we want it back.” 

Johnson’s Government prioritised Covid contracts in the so-called VIP Fast Lane during the pandemic, with Conservative MPs drawing on their business contacts to secure PPE. Much of the personal protective equipment was deemed unusable and was later incinerated in huge quantities, at great cost to the taxpayer. 

The Commissioner will have an initial focus on PPE procurement. But officials say they will also review activity across all Covid schemes, potentially looking to claw back cash from (non-PPE) contracts and support loans. 

A Treasury staffer said the Government was looking to secure many “highly credible” candidates, some of whom may not be able to do the role full-time. The time commitment is flexible and will depend on “the successful candidate, their agreed approach and other commitments”. 

They’ll have to work with the Public Sector Fraud Authority, set up in 2022, amid criticism of Boris Johnson’s Government over crony Covid contracts. 

On Tuesday, Cabinet Office Minister Georgia Gould convened senior officials from the UK’s closest intelligence allies to “coordinate the fight against Covid fraud” internationally. 

The meeting of Five Eyes – the intelligence alliance between the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States – aimed to identify ways governments have been successfully detecting, recouping and prosecuting fraud committed during the pandemic. 

Ministers say lessons learnt will contribute to the ongoing work of the Public Sector Fraud Authority, and presumably the new Covid anti-fraud commissioner.

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Covid Anti-Fraud Commissioner – Person Specification

Via the official job ad

Essential criteria

• A successful track record of delivery in a senior counter-fraud, commercial, legal, or procurement role whether in the private or public sector, in the UK or internationally
• Senior experience of resolving commercial or legal disputes
• Understanding of procurement and leadership in high-pressure or crisis situations
• An inspirational and highly effective team leader with exceptionally strong interpersonal and influencing skills, capable of developing true joint working to deliver shared goals.
• An impressive track record for setting strategy and delivering the intended outcomes
• First-class presentation skills for optimum impact in Parliament and the media
• Highest level of ethical standards, free of conflicts of interest, committed to transparency and accountability and the principles of public life.

Desirable criteria

Exceptional analytical ability to absorb large volumes of complex information and reach robust conclusions quickly.

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