Tory chairman calls for Carol Vorderman to apologise over ‘defamatory’ tweets

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Tory chairman Greg Hands has called for Carol Vorderman to apologise for posting “defamatory and damaging” tweets about his involvement in a lifestyle firm being awarded a £25.8 million personal protective equipment contract in 2020. Carol Vorderman posted: “I’ve been contacted by Greg Hands MP in response to my tweets about his involvement in the granting of a Covid-19 healthcare contract to Luxe Lifestyle in 2020. “While the awarding of this contract was unfortunate, and there remain serious questions about the VIP Lane, I’m happy to accept Mr Hands’ assurance that his role in the process was simply to refer the approach to the JACT, and that there was no impropriety on his part.” Mr Hands shared an image of Vorderman’s statement, along with a message saying: “After a six month campaign of defamation & vilification, @carolvorders has today finally withdrawn her allegations. “She accused me of ‘illegal corruption’, phoning a friend to say ‘here’s a nice little £25.8m PPE contract for you mate’ & having my ‘hands in the cookie jar’ “These tweets were defamatory and damaging.