Carlisle Socialist Party to begin infected blood scandal petition

More than 30,000 people were infected with deadly viruses between the 1970s and early 1990s as they received blood transfusions or blood products while receiving NHS care.

The 2,527-page report from the Infected Blood Inquiry, published on Monday, found the infected blood scandal “could largely have been avoided” and there was a “pervasive” cover-up to hide the truth.

Some 3,000 people have since died.

According to Government documents, people living with an HIV infection as a result of the scandal could receive between £2.2 million and £2.6 million.

Payments for people living with hepatitis vary from £35,500 for an “acute” infection up to £1,557,000 for the most severe illnesses caused by the virus, according to the figures.

The Carlisle Socialist Party petition is calling for the prosecution of the health ministers for corporate manslaughter.

A spokesperson for Carlisle Socialist Party said: “They lied to us for decades to avoid paying compensation and to maintain the authority of the state.

“The cover-up included the deliberate destruction of incriminating documents, with the collusion of the “Yes, minister” Whitehall bureaucracy and medical establishment.

“This is not the state of the people of Britain but of a self-serving ruling class.

“Those politicians have no right to our trust or loyalty on this or any other issue. Their so-called “British values” are lies and hypocrisy.

READ MORE: Cumbrian infected blood victim urges government to start compensation

“The protest and petition will therefore call for the prosecution for corporate manslaughter of the health ministers, NHS bosses and private health companies responsible; for the nationalisation of the pharmaceutical industry and its integration into the NHS; and for our NHS to come under the democratic and accountable control of health workers, patients and communities.”

The Socialist Party are meeting on English Street, Carlisle, on Saturday, May 25  from 11am to 1pm.