Labour is preparing legal action against the government to secure records related to the awarding of contracts to PPE Medpro, a company linked to Conservative peer Baroness Michelle Mone. The contracts, worth over £200 million, were awarded during the early days of the pandemic, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest.

Lady Mone, who is best known for founding the lingerie company Ultimo, has strongly denied allegations that she profited from PPE Medpro after recommending it to ministers. In a statement, her office said: “With immediate effect, Baroness Mone will be taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords in order to clear her name of the unjustly levelled allegations.

As part of her leave, Lady Mone will not attend House sittings, vote on proceedings, or claim any allowances.

Labour has introduced a humble address motion, seeking a binding vote in the House of Commons to force the release of contract documents to the Commons Public Accounts Committee. The vote is expected later on Tuesday, with Tory MPs unlikely to be ordered to oppose the motion, increasing the likelihood that the contracts will be handed over for scrutiny.

The Lords standards watchdog has also launched an investigation into Baroness Mone’s alleged role in securing contracts for PPE Medpro. However, the inquiry has been paused while other criminal investigations are underway.

The Guardian reported that Lady Mone and her children received £29 million from the company’s profits, though the peer has repeatedly denied having any “role or function” in PPE Medpro. Her legal team maintains that she is “in no way connected to PPE Medpro.”

The unfolding scandal adds to growing public concern over the transparency of government contracts awarded during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Labour seeks further accountability over the distribution of pandemic-related funds.