Rishi Sunak suffers humiliating Commons defeat over Infected blood scandal
Rishi Sunak has suffered a humiliating Commons defeat over requires a brand new physique to assist victims of the contaminated blood scandal.
The Tory chief’s majority was worn out as MPs – together with 23 of his personal backbenchers – voted by 246-242 for a key modification.
The modification to the Victims and Prisoners Bill will set up a physique for a full compensation scheme for hundreds of sufferers contaminated with HIV and hepatitis C by way of contaminated blood merchandise within the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties.
The physique will likely be chaired by a High Court Judge to supervise the funds of billions of kilos to victims and their family members.
In complete, 30 Tory MPs signed the modification, together with the previous Cabinet Ministers David Davis and Sir Robert Buckland.
It got here because the Tory minister Edward Argar sought to placate Tory rebels saying the Government would carry ahead its personal modification to the Bill. He mentioned this may put in place timescales for a supply physique for compensation to victims of the scandal. He mentioned the Government had already accepted the “moral case” for funds.
The Justice Minister advised MPs: “The infected blood scandal should never have happened and my thoughts remain with those impacted by this appalling tragedy.”
Dame Diana Johnson, who has campaigned on behalf of the victims, mentioned the creation of the compensation physique by the tip of this yr had been advisable by the chairman of the contaminated blood inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff, a former High Court decide.
During the controversy on Monday night Dame Diana mentioned: “I think it is important this evening that we show to the Government that the will of this Parliament across parties is that that body should be set up to administer compensation payments to start to deliver justice to those infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal.”
She mentioned it was “disappointing” the federal government had imposed a three-line whip on Tory MPs to vote in opposition to the plans.
In a letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt informing him of Labour’s help for the modification, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves mentioned final week the scandal was “one of the most appalling tragedies in our country’s recent history”.
She wrote: “This week we have the opportunity to work together to begin to bring justice for the victims. Blood infected with Hepatitis C and HIV has stolen life, denied opportunities and harmed livelihoods.”
“This is not a party political issue. All of us have a responsibility to act now to address this historic wrong. “That consists of working collectively on a cross-party foundation and with devolved governments to form a last compensation scheme.”
