The Times reported in November 2020 that Bethell is the Minister for
NHS Test and Trace, a novelty formed as part of the
Johnson ministry's efforts to control the
COVID-19 pandemic. He "was a surprise appointment in March having chaired
Matt Hancock's leadership campaign in 2019 and giving [him] a £5,000 donation."[7] He opened himself to charges of "cronyism" published in The Guardian over his selection to an advisory role of lobbyists like
George Pascoe-Watson, whose clients include the
Boston Consulting Group "which has won several large government contracts during the pandemic."[8]
In July 2021, Bethell was placed under investigation by the
House of Lords Commissioner for Standards over a "complaint regarding Lord Bethell sponsoring a pass for Gina Coladangelo", who was a lobbyist and lover of the then Health secretary
Matt Hancock.[9]
In August 2021, it was revealed that Bethell had replaced his mobile phone earlier that year and not transferred data from his previous phone, meaning that it could not be searched for messages related to an £85m contract with
Abingdon Health that was subject to judicial review.[10] In November 2021 he stated in a witness statement that three prior explanations he had given for why he could not access his messages - that he lost his phone, that his phone was defective and that he had given it to a relative - were incorrect and that he had deleted them because he incorrectly thought they were backed up.[11] In June 2023 Bethell appeared on BBC Radio 4 to defend the government which was trying to prevent disclosure of Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages to the COVID-19 inquiry and stated that no decisions were made in WhatsApp groups during the pandemic.[12] In December 2023, after
Michelle Mone admitted her involvement in PPE Medpro, Bethell posted a screenshot of a text message that Mone had sent him in 2020.[13]
In November 2021, it emerged that Lord Bethell had been part of a government meeting regarding a £600 million contract with
Randox, the clinical diagnostics firm for which
Owen Paterson was found to have breached[15] parliamentary standards in which, against protocol, no minutes were taken.[16]
Personal life
Bethell is married to Melissa (née Wong), a businesswoman.[17] Lord and Lady Bethell have four children.[18] He succeeded his father
Nicholas as
Baron Bethell in 2007.
Italics in entries mean the titleholder also holds a previously listed barony of greater precedence. ^* Also a Lord in the
Peerage of Scotland, ^• Also a Baron in the
Peerage of Ireland
The Times reported in November 2020 that Bethell is the Minister for
NHS Test and Trace, a novelty formed as part of the
Johnson ministry's efforts to control the
COVID-19 pandemic. He "was a surprise appointment in March having chaired
Matt Hancock's leadership campaign in 2019 and giving [him] a £5,000 donation."[7] He opened himself to charges of "cronyism" published in The Guardian over his selection to an advisory role of lobbyists like
George Pascoe-Watson, whose clients include the
Boston Consulting Group "which has won several large government contracts during the pandemic."[8]
In July 2021, Bethell was placed under investigation by the
House of Lords Commissioner for Standards over a "complaint regarding Lord Bethell sponsoring a pass for Gina Coladangelo", who was a lobbyist and lover of the then Health secretary
Matt Hancock.[9]
In August 2021, it was revealed that Bethell had replaced his mobile phone earlier that year and not transferred data from his previous phone, meaning that it could not be searched for messages related to an £85m contract with
Abingdon Health that was subject to judicial review.[10] In November 2021 he stated in a witness statement that three prior explanations he had given for why he could not access his messages - that he lost his phone, that his phone was defective and that he had given it to a relative - were incorrect and that he had deleted them because he incorrectly thought they were backed up.[11] In June 2023 Bethell appeared on BBC Radio 4 to defend the government which was trying to prevent disclosure of Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages to the COVID-19 inquiry and stated that no decisions were made in WhatsApp groups during the pandemic.[12] In December 2023, after
Michelle Mone admitted her involvement in PPE Medpro, Bethell posted a screenshot of a text message that Mone had sent him in 2020.[13]
In November 2021, it emerged that Lord Bethell had been part of a government meeting regarding a £600 million contract with
Randox, the clinical diagnostics firm for which
Owen Paterson was found to have breached[15] parliamentary standards in which, against protocol, no minutes were taken.[16]
Personal life
Bethell is married to Melissa (née Wong), a businesswoman.[17] Lord and Lady Bethell have four children.[18] He succeeded his father
Nicholas as
Baron Bethell in 2007.
Italics in entries mean the titleholder also holds a previously listed barony of greater precedence. ^* Also a Lord in the
Peerage of Scotland, ^• Also a Baron in the
Peerage of Ireland