Rishi Sunak last night suffered his first House of Commons defeat since becoming Prime Minister, with MPs voting to establish a compensatory body for victims of the infected blood scandal.
The amendment, tabled by Labour, was passed by 246 votes to 242.
Sunak has a working majority of 56 MPs, with 22 MPs rebelling to support the amendment.
The Haemophilia Society said the Prime Minister “should be ashamed” he had been forced “to do the right thing”.
WATCH: Richard Tice says Rishi Sunak should resign and call a general election
In an attempt to fend off a rebellion from backbenchers, Sunak had pressed for the vote to take place after the statutory inquiry finishes – likely to happen next year.
The amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill was proposed by Dame Diana Johnson, Labour MP for Kingston Hull North.
The Government will be required to establish a new body which will administer full compensation within three months of the bill becoming law.
Thousands of people died in the 1970s and 1980s after being infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products imported from the US.
Some bereaved families are yet to receive compensation.
Johnson said her change to the Victims and Prisoners Bill is an “important step forward” in an “extraordinarily long fight for justice”.
In a message posted on social media platform X, she said: “I am very pleased that my amendment new clause 27 has been passed, despite Government opposition.
“This will now put in law that a body will be established to pay compensation to those infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal within three months of the Act passing.
“This is an important step forward in what has been an extraordinarily long fight for justice.
“However, it is not the end. There is still much work to be done to fully implement Sir Brian (Langstaff)’s recommendations and bring justice to those who do not have the luxury of waiting.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Justice Minister Edward Argar told the Commons that the Government will bring forward its own amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill to put in place timescales for a delivery body for compensation to the victims of the infected blood scandal.
He said: “The Government will bring forward its own amendment when the Bill reaches the Lords which will put in place the necessary legislative framework and timescales for a delivery body for compensation for the victims of infected blood to be established in line with the overall objectives set out in (the chairwoman of the Home Affairs Committee, Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson’s) new clause 27.
“This will ensure that the Government is able to move quickly as soon as the inquiry reports.”
