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A West Lothian biotech company has sprung up whose contract to manufacture cancelled covid vaccines through the UK government still won £358 million of taxpayers’ money.
France’s Valneva intended to manufacture more than a hundred million vaccines at its Livingston site, but the contract was cancelled by ministers in 2021.
The U. K. government said it withdrew from the deal at the time because the company breached the terms of the deal, but Valneva denied that.
The Daily Record reported that an online monetary publication shows Valneva made billions of pounds in banknotes despite the deal being cancelled.
A form filed with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The U. S. government says Valneva won advances totaling £358 million as part of its deal with the UK government.
The company earned around £40. 5 million as part of a commercial deal, another £66. 5 million to cover capital expenditures and the rest to pay advance bills for vaccine doses.
Valneva is now also reportedly contemplating promoting the Almeida plant that was built specifically at the Livingston site to manufacture Covid vaccines.
This week it was reported via the BBC that the French company hired an advertising real estate company to explore the features of the 75,000-square-foot cocoon-filled facility.
SNP MP for Livingston Hannah Bardell said: “Unfortunately, it is unexpected that the UK Conservative government has been accused of hacking this iconic vaccine factory in my constituency of Livingston.
“The UK government may have piled up a lot of pain and key jobs if it had kept its contract and delivered on its promises and commitment to ‘vaccine diversity’.
“Having learned no lessons from Covid research, conservatives sidelined this plant and, in doing so, risked a key site in the progression of vaccines that may become important in a potential long-term pandemic.
“Without swift action from the Scottish government, this plant would never have survived and the Valneva rescue paintings can continue.
“Companies like Valneva deserve more than the damaged promises of a damaged Westminster government. With the full powers of independence, we will ensure that factories like this, their workers, build our resilience rather than obstruct it.
The UK and Valneva have been contacted for comment.
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