Infected Blood Payouts Threaten Rishi Sunak’s Pre-Election Plan for Further Tax Cuts
- Compensation for victims expected to cost billions of pounds
- Payouts coincide with Britain’s fragile public finances
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UK plans to compensate thousands of victims of a decades-old contaminated blood scandal risk undermining Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s ability to deliver a tax-cutting pre-election budget in the autumn.
A final report into what’s been dubbed the worst treatment disaster in the history of the National Health Service is due for publication on Monday. Sunak — or one of his ministers — is likely to deliver a statement to Parliament that includes an apology and details a compensation package in excess of £10 billion ($12.7 billion) for the victims and their relatives, according to people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity discussing unannounced plans.