How MPs fast-tracked firms for Covid contracts

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing November 18, 2020 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Hundreds of firms were [fast-tracked for lucrative coronavirus-related contracts]( following tips from ministers and MPs as the government handed out £18bn in funding under emergency rules, a damning report reveals today. The way procurement and transparency rules were ripped up in the scramble for personal protective equipment - with some deals secured by Conservative allies - is sharply criticised in the new assessment from the spending watchdog. Its report confirms a secret “high-priority lane” for favoured firms, with at least 144 put forward from ministers’ private offices as MPs suggested “a possible manufacturer in their constituency”. The source of more than half of the 493 recommendations has not been identified, of which 47 secured deals - and just 55 per cent of the 1,644 contracts worth more than £25,000 awarded up to the end of July have been published. Boris Johnson has [set out plans for green investment]( over the coming decade, including a target to generate enough offshore wind to power every home in the UK and a ban on new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030. The prime minister’s long-awaited 10-point plan for a “green industrial revolution” also promised the UK’s first hydrogen-powered town, four carbon capture “clusters” to suck 10 megatonnes of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and a new generation of advanced nuclear reactors. But green campaigners warned that the £12bn in public funding promised by Mr Johnson fell well short of the scale of ambition needed, while there was dismay at his inclusion of “pie-in-the-sky” plans for zero-emission jet planes. The decision to bring forward by five years the phase-out date for polluting cars and vans - with new hybrids granted a stay of execution until 2035 - is designed to kick-start the electric vehicle market, which despite recent growth still accounts for just 7 per cent of the sector in the UK. Donald Trump has [fired a top cybersecurity official]( who had rejected his false claim that the 2020 US presidential election was rigged. In his latest attempt to claim, contrary to all the evidence, that he was the victim of fraud and that Joe Biden is not the legitimate winner, Mr Trump said he was firing Chris Krebs, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The president directly tied the decision to recent comments from Mr Krebs, to the effect that there was no evidence of any tampering with the election apparatus, despite Mr Trump's refusal to concede the election and his decision to try and fight Mr Biden's victory in the courts. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [The surprise discovery that brought The Beatles back together]( [‘Landing zones’ emerging for Brexit trade deal, Ireland says]( [Dinosaurs were not in decline at moment asteroid hit, study shows]( . Uncertain times, unrivalled clarity, unlimited access Enjoy 50% off Independent Premium for 12 months with this limited-time offer [Find out more]( . More news - [Students demand tuition refunds and accuse government of ‘mistreatment’]( - [John McAfee reveals ‘fascinating adventure’ inside Spanish prison]( - [How legal battles caught up with the star of India’s Fox News]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.