Rishi Sunak suffers defeat over contaminated blood scandal vote
Rishi Sunak suffered a humiliating Commons defeat final evening after Tory rebels voted to create a brand new physique to assist victims of the contaminated blood scandal.
In a last-minute bid to push back a insurrection, justice minister Edward Argar pledged the Government would arrange a compensation scheme ‘in line’ with the Labour-backed proposals.
But 23 Tory backbenchers defied the PM’s three-line whip by voting in favour of the Opposition’s modification to the Victims and Prisoners Bill.
Mr Sunak’s majority was worn out as MPs voted final evening by 246 to 242 in favour of the proposal. It marks his first Commons defeat as PM and the primary defeat on a whipped vote because the final basic election in 2019.
The modification, tabled by Labour’s Dame Diana Johnson, would set up a physique for a full compensation scheme for 1000’s of sufferers contaminated with HIV and hepatitis C by means of contaminated blood merchandise within the Seventies and Eighties.
Rishi Sunak’s majority was worn out as MPs voted final evening by 246 to 242 in favour of the proposal (Pictured: Prime Minister’s Questions final week)
The modification, tabled by Labour’s Dame Diana Johnson, would set up a physique for a full compensation scheme for 1000’s of sufferers contaminated with HIV and hepatitis C (Pictured: Prime Minister’s Questions final week)
It would guarantee this was created by a High Court decide inside three months of the laws turning into regulation. Interim compensation funds of £100,000 have been paid in 2022 however left many victims out.
Earlier within the day, the Government doubled down on its place, with Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer saying it was ‘acceptable’ to first ‘await the end result’ of an inquiry into the scandal. This is about to be printed in March by chairman Sir Brian Langstaff.
But final evening Mr Argar revealed that the Government’s place had modified.
He advised the Commons ministers had ‘nice sympathy’ for Dame Diana’s modification, saying: ‘I can subsequently affirm the federal government will convey ahead its personal modification when the Bill reaches the Lords.’
Theresa May arrange an Infected Blood Inquiry in 2017 to research the scandal and doable compensation.
Ministers have accepted the ethical case for payouts however had wished to attend till the inquiry delivers its verdict, anticipated in March, earlier than taking additional motion. The Treasury estimates the ultimate compensation invoice will find yourself being between £5billion and £22billion.
Around 30,000 individuals in Britain are believed to have contracted HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated blood.
