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Rishi Sunak faced heckling on Wednesday as he defended the UK government’s decision to delay the implementation of a compensation scheme for victims of the infected blood scandal. Sunak stated that the government was working diligently to address this tragedy that has spanned several administrations.
During his appearance at the public inquiry into the National Health Service’s worst treatment disaster, Sunak refused to reconsider the decision to wait for Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report before introducing a payout scheme. Langstaff’s review is expected to be published in the autumn, but an interim report from April contains his complete recommendation on compensation.
Jenni Richards, counsel to the inquiry, argued that this timeline would inevitably cause further delays and may coincide with a period of general election purdah, imposing constraints on policymaking. In response, Sunak emphasized the importance of proceeding promptly while also ensuring thoroughness in government decision-making.
Later, Sunak stated that it is generally advisable for a government to have the full findings of an independent inquiry before making final decisions. He reassured attendees that the Cabinet Office is actively analyzing recommendations and questions. Once Langstaff’s report is received, the government will be able to take appropriate action.
During the hearing, Sunak’s statement was met with ironic laughter when he mentioned the rapid pace of the ongoing work.
In May, the Financial Times reported that the compensation bill for those affected by the scandal could reach £10bn, posing further challenges for the UK’s strained public finances.
During the 1970s and 1980s, tens of thousands of Britons were infected with HIV and hepatitis C due to tainted blood transfusions from the NHS. According to recent figures from the inquiry, around 2,900 individuals who received contaminated blood products, mainly from the US during the AIDS epidemic, are estimated to have died between 1970 and 2019. However, this estimate carries considerable uncertainty.
When repeatedly asked about the government’s handling of the scandal, Sunak declined to comment on the actions of previous administrations. However, he emphasized that significant progress has been made under his leadership, with interim compensation payments already made to 4,500 people.
Sunak acknowledged that compensation is a personal priority and expressed his commitment to swift resolution. Regarding the inclusion of the compensation scheme in the upcoming King’s Speech, Sunak stated that he cannot provide details due to obvious reasons.
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