Britain's government has secured a legal victory in its lawsuit against PPE Medpro, with London's High Court awarding £122 million in damages over a disputed contract for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Health and Social Care sued the company in 2022, alleging breach of a June 2020 contract to supply 25 million sterile surgical gowns. Judge Sara Cockerill ruled in the government's favor, finding that the gowns were not properly validated as sterile and therefore could not be used in healthcare settings.

The case centers on PPE procurement during the pandemic's peak, when the Conservative government faced repeated criticism over deals awarded to companies with political connections. PPE Medpro, linked to Conservative peer Michelle Mone, was among firms that secured contracts through what became known as a VIP lane. The government argued it was entitled to reject the gowns and recoup its expenditure, while the company maintained the equipment met contractual requirements and accused officials of experiencing "buyer's remorse."

Michelle Mone has publicly denounced the court's decision, describing it as "shocking but all too predictable" in a social media statement. The Tory peer and her husband, businessman Doug Barrowman—identified as PPE Medpro's "principal backer"—claim they have been "scapegoated" for broader procurement failures. Mone asserted that the company had offered to settle the case and accused the government of orchestrating a campaign to distract from what she called "catastrophic mismanagement of PPE procurement."

The financial recovery remains uncertain, as PPE Medpro's most recent accounts show net assets of less than £700,000. The company filed a notice to appoint an administrator ahead of the ruling, signaling potential insolvency. While the government sought additional storage costs of £8.6 million, Judge Cockerill rejected this claim. The outcome highlights ongoing scrutiny of pandemic-era procurement practices and the challenges of recouping public funds from contractors facing financial difficulties.

The United Kingdom is bracing for severe weather disruption as Storm Amy, the first named storm of the 2025/26 season, approaches with forecasts predicting damaging winds up to 95mph and heavy rainfall. The Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings across northern and western regions, with amber wind alerts indicating potential danger to life in Scotland's Grampian, Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and Strathclyde areas between Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Wind gusts are expected to reach 60-70mph widely across northern Britain, potentially exceeding 95mph in exposed coastal and hilly areas, particularly in the northwest. The storm system is forecast to bring gale-force winds initially to western regions during Friday evening before moving northeast overnight into Saturday. Transport Scotland officials have warned of expected disruption to transportation networks in affected areas, with flying debris posing additional hazards during the peak wind periods.

Heavy rainfall accompanies the strong winds, with western Scotland facing the brunt of precipitation. Forecasters predict rainfall totals could exceed 30-50mm within six to nine hours, increasing risks of localized flooding. Yellow rain warnings remain in effect for Northern Ireland and western Scotland through Thursday evening, expanding to cover all of Scotland and much of northern England from Friday noon through midnight.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Tom Crabtree emphasized that while uncertainty remains about the storm's exact track, the system will significantly impact northern and western regions. "Forecasts and warnings will be updated as the situation becomes more clear," Crabtree stated, urging residents to monitor local forecasts. Multiple yellow wind warnings will be in force across Scotland, northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland from Friday afternoon through Saturday, affecting power supplies, transportation and outdoor activities.