{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/35669120-6056-4c38-8f33-80df7112e8df/dd67b020-b549-48a2-9593-7e2c48dd17f9?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Covid and accusations of cronyism","description":"<p>Transparency rules have been cast aside by ministers in their coronavirus panic. The result? Privileged access for friendly lobbyists and £1.5bn of contracts to Conservative-linked companies. We speak to the Sunday Times journalist who exposed much of it, and a lawyer bringing a case against the government.</p><p><br></p><p><em>This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: </em><a href=\"https://www.thetimes.co.uk/subscribe/?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=audio&amp;utm_campaign=podcastsubs&amp;utm_content=storiesofourtimes\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><br></p><p>Guests:</p><p>Gabriel Pogrund, Sunday Times Whitehall correspondent.</p><p>Jo Maugham QC, Director of the Good Law Project.</p><p><br></p><p>Host:&nbsp;Manveen Rana.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Clips used: BBC News, Sky News, Channel 4 News.</p>","author_name":"The Times"}