Government defeated by 4 votes on Infected Blood Amendment

On Monday 4 December 2023, the House debated and voted on the New Clause 27 of the Victims and Prisoners Bill which would require the Government to establish a body to administer compensation to victims and affected partners of the Infected Blood Scandal within 3 months of the Bill becoming law.   

I signed the amendment, New Clause 27 which was tabled by Dame Diana Johnson MP relating to the compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal. 

The scandal unfolded in the late 1970s and early 80s when around 4,800 people with blood-clotting disorder haemophilia were given blood donated – or sold – by people infected with HIV and hepatitis C. There is an ongoing public statutory inquiry into how the blood was administered.

For many years I have been part of the campaign calling for compensation to be made available to victims of the Scandal. It is vital victims are able toi obtain interim compensation. 

The Bill goes to the Lords.

I voted in favour of New Clause 27 and this was added to the Bill by a vote Ayes 246 : Noes 242, a Government defeat of 4 votes.