Billions of pounds lost to Covid fraud and error under Tories 'beyond recovery'

Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner Tom Hayhoe found the state failed to recognise how people would seek to line their own pockets in the pandemic as he laid bare the scale of waste

Billions of pounds lost to Covid fraud and error under the Tories is unlikely to ever be recovered, a damning report has revealed.

Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner Tom Hayhoe found an eye-watering £10.9billion was lost to the taxpayer during the pandemic as fraudsters exploited Government schemes like 'bounce-back' loans, the Eat Out to Help Out and one-off grants.

Some £1.8billion had been clawed back but “much of the shortfall is now beyond recovery,” the report said. Mr Hayhoe said the Government "paid too little attention to the risk of fraud" as it sought to get to grips with the deadly virus. Schemes we