A lavish townhouse in central London, recently sold for £17.8 million, has become the backdrop to a disturbing narrative involving businesswoman Michelle Mone. Beyond the headlines surrounding a controversial pandemic contract, allegations of aggressive and bullying behavior towards the tradespeople renovating the property are now surfacing.
A glazier who worked on the Belgravia home described a climate of fear, claiming Mone was “horrible to everyone.” He recounted an incident where a builder, after accidentally damaging newly installed floors with gym equipment, was subjected to a barrage of abuse, including a deeply offensive slur and a demand for payment.
Emails allegedly sent by Mone paint a picture of relentless pressure and thinly veiled threats. One message, signed with her full title – “Lady Michelle Mone OBE, Baroness of Mayfair” – warned of hotel bills at the prestigious Corinthia Hotel being charged to the builder’s company if work wasn’t completed on schedule.
Another email, sent a week later, escalated the demands, accusing the glazier of broken promises and threatening legal action. It concluded with a chilling reference to her substantial social media following, implying potential public shaming if the job wasn’t finished immediately.
The glazier maintains no firm deadlines were ever agreed upon, and delays were due to coordinating with other trades. He even offered a refund if another company could expedite the mirror installation. Yet, he felt utterly disregarded, stating, “To her, I was just something she trod in.”
These accusations emerge amidst ongoing scrutiny over a £25 million contract awarded during the Covid-19 pandemic for medical gowns. A firm linked to Mone is now required to repay £148 million to the UK government due to concerns about the gowns’ quality.
Previously urged to resign from the House of Lords over the pandemic controversy, Mone vehemently denies any wrongdoing. In a defiant statement, she claims to have acted in good faith during a national emergency and accuses the government of using her as a scapegoat for wider failings in the PPE procurement process.
Mone’s company, famed for the Ultimo bra, benefited from a “VIP lane” established for awarding contracts during the pandemic. However, gowns supplied by PPE Medpro, a consortium recommended by Mone and linked to her husband, were rejected by the NHS due to sterilization concerns. The company also faces a substantial £39 million tax bill.
A spokesperson for Mone dismisses the allegations of bullying as “false and malicious,” attributing the emails to “understandable frustration” over poor workmanship and delays. They categorically deny the use of offensive language and insist there is no evidence to support any claims of intimidation.
The spokesperson further emphasizes that the refurbishment project was plagued by mismanagement from the contracting company, The Challenger Group, and that the correspondence reflects this reality. The claims, they assert, are a calculated attempt to damage Mone’s reputation seven years after the work was completed.
