Tories revolt over tainted blood scandal as MPs demand speedy compensation

Demonstrators hold posters of victims and read a message related to the NHS contaminated blood scandal. Photo: AFP

Rishi Sunak clashes with big Tories as rebellion erupts on Monday over the tainted blood scandal as MPs demand faster compensation for victims.

Prime Minister's majority under threat as less At least 30 Conservative MPs backed Labour's proposal to speed up payments.

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In the 1970s and 80s, up to 30,000 people were treated with contaminated blood, thousands of whom died from HIV and hepatitis C.

Several former Cabinet ministers have joined the ranks of the rebellion, spanning all wings of the party from the center to the right.

The Labor Party has tabled an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill requiring the creation of a new body to pay compensation within three months.< /p> British Justice Minister Robert Buckland is among the Tory rebels. Photo: AFP

He has the support of more than 100 MPs, including 30 Conservatives, meaning the government is expected to be defeated in the Commons.

The Conservative rebels include former cabinet ministers Sir Robert Buckland, Chloe Smith, David Davis and Damian Green.

Influential members of the right wing, including Dame Andrea Jenickns and Sir John Hayes, have also signed up, as well as centrist MPs such as Caroline Nokes.

Given the high level of cross-party support, the amendment is expected to pass Parliament. Speaker, and a vote on his nomination will be held in the House of Commons on Monday.

Government sources insisted on Sunday that they will not retreat or concede to the rebels, despite the prospect of a crushing defeat.< /p>

Theresa May, the former prime minister, set up the Contaminated Blood Inquiry back in 2017 to investigate the scandal and possible compensation.

Lauren Palmer at home in Bristol. She lost both her parents in the contaminated blood products scandal. Photo: JAY WILLIAMS

Ministers agreed with the moral case for the payments but want to wait for the inquiry to reach a verdict, expected in March next year, before taking further action.

Meanwhile, victims of the scandal and their families have been paid interim payments of £100,000 per person announced last summer.

Labour said the wait until next spring was too long and that more needed to be done now to victims have received the justice they deserve.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, has now written to Jeremy Hunt, calling the scandal «one of the most appalling tragedies in our country's recent history.» «

» For victims, time is of the essence. It is estimated that every four days a person dies from infected blood,” she warned the chancellor in her letter.

A government spokesman said: “We deeply sympathize with the strength of feeling on this issue and understand the need for action.” /p>

“However, it would be wrong to pre-empt the findings of the final report on infected blood, which is due in March 2024.

“It is right that these findings be published and reviewed before then as any legislation will be proposed, including any compensation scheme.»