CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves has announced billions of pounds of compensation will be set aside for victims of the infected blood and Post Office Horizon scandals.

The announcement was made as part of the 2024 Autumn Budget, which is the first of Keir Starmer's Labour government.

While Ms Reeves praised former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for apologising to the victims of the infected blood scandal on behalf of the British state, she says he failed to set aside money to properly compensate them.

The Chancellor told the House: "Today, for the very first time, we will provide specific funding to compensate those infected and those affected, in full."

In total, £11.8bn is being set aside for victims of the infected blood scandal, and another £1.8bn for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal.

She describes it as "redress that is long overdue for the pain and injustice that they have suffered".

In a full statement, she added: "The previous government also failed to budget for costs which they knew would materialise. That includes funding for vital compensation schemes for victims of two terrible injustices: the infected blood scandal and the Post Office Horizon scandal.

Recommended Reading:

“The Leader of the Opposition rightly made an unequivocal apology for the injustice of the infected blood scandal on behalf of the British state, but he did not budget for the costs of compensation.

“Today, for the very first time, we will provide specific funding to compensate those infected and those affected, in full with £11.8 billion in this Budget.

“I am also today setting aside £1.8 billion to compensate victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal, redress that is long overdue for the pain and injustice that they have suffered.”