Thread by @JolyonMaugham

So a quick update on the procurement case management hearing today.

We already had 'permission' on 2/5 grounds in Pestfix and Clandeboye and 3/5 grounds in Ayanda (having permission means that you can argue a case at the full hearing).

Overall I would say (and I'm not in the business of overselling litigation or prospects) we had a slightly disappointing day. We were given permission to bring an extra ground in Pestfix and Clandeboye.

In P and C we got permission on an extra ground - that the contracts were irrational - because the Court was concerned by what the VIP lane meant for the fairness of the procurement process. This, importantly, means there will be some proper judicial scrutiny of the VIP lane.

On the downside, we failed to get permission on the others - we are *contemplating* asking the Court of Appeal for permission because we do think it was disproportionate to buy so much (the NAO said five years of supply) without a proper procurement process.

And the Judge thought (albeit at the permission stage, so without much evidence) that DHSC had basically done the right thing in buying so much PPE. I disagree with her - but she's the judge and I'm not.

We had to decide whether to agree with DHSC to push the February hearing back to allow us to contemplate an appeal to the Court of Appeal. And, although it was a difficult call, we decided that we should.

An important part of that reasoning was that we already have two other judicial review hearings in February (if memory serves) on Government's failure to publish the contracts and in Public First. And it might also allow the Saiger case and the other Pestfix cases to catch up.

The hearing is still likely to come on before the summer holidays of next year.

So, that's where we got to. We at @GoodLawProject (and I am sure @EveryDoctorUK) are hugely grateful for your support. And we'll keep on trucking.