Rishi Sunak apologised for the “decades-long moral failure at the heart of our national life” that led to tens of thousands of people being given infected blood.
The Prime Minister said the publication of Sir Brian Langstaff’s report marked a “day of shame for the British state”, including the NHS, civil service and ministers in successive governments.
But Sunak was directly criticised by Langstaff and campaigners for failing to announce compensation for victims of the scandal for more than a year since payouts were first recommended.
The inquiry chairman and former judge said this delay was a “serious failing which replicates the wrongs of the past” which “compounds the harm which has already been inflicted”.
Government plans for that compensation – which could reportedly total £10bn – will finally be announced by Treasury Minister John Glen on Tuesday.
Labour MP Diana Johnson, who has led the campaign in parliament for justice, told Sunak that while his government had accepted the moral case for compensation in December 2022, the failure of ministers to set out plans for payouts following Langstaff’s interim report a year ago “has added another layer of hurt” for victims.
She said she hoped that compensation payments will start to be made to victims, and their families, by the end of this year.
Sir Keir Starmer also apologised on behalf of previous Labour governments for their part in helping to cover up the scandal.
In a statement to the Commons, the Prime Minister said: “This is a day of shame for the British state.
