Blood-inquiry families heckle PM over compensation

Rishi Sunak says the government will wait for the Infected Blood Inquiry's final report before responding to questions around victim compensation.

Bereaved families heckled the prime minister when he told the inquiry the government would act as "quickly as possible".

Mr Sunak told the inquiry people infected and affected by the scandal had "suffered for decades" and he wanted a resolution to "this appalling tragedy".

But although policy work was progressing and the government in a position to move quickly, the work had "not been concluded".

He indicated there was a range of complicated issues to work through.

"If it was a simple matter, no-one would have called for an inquiry," Mr Sunak said.

Campaign group Factor 8 said Mr Sunak had offered "neither new information not commitments" to the victims and bereaved families, which felt "like a betrayal".

Haemophilia Society chief executive Kate Burt said: "This final delay is demeaning, insulting and immensely damaging.

"We urge the prime minister to find the will to do the right thing and finally deliver compensation which recognises the suffering that has been caused."

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Source: BBC News, 26 July 2023